Big squeeze in Auckland schools

Already-full schools face being made to cram in more students as the Government struggles to cope with the growth in Auckland's population.

The Ministry of Education has been told to find space for 150,000 more school-age children in the city by 2040.

It says it will look at building new schools; creating new or temporary teaching spaces, which could shrink play areas; and changing schools' year levels.

Enrolment zones could also be changed to ease pressure on schools with full rolls, which could in turn affect property prices. Houses in zones for highly rated state schools can be worth tens of thousands of dollars more than similar properties just outside the boundaries.

Auckland Council plans to accommodate a million more people in the next 30 years - 700,000 within existing urban boundaries.

- nzherald.co.nz