Two specialist classrooms in Napier to ease high learning needs waitlist of 30 children

Two new specialist classrooms at Onekawa School will support up to 20 children with high learning needs in Napier. Photo / Rafaella Melo

Over 30 children with high learning support needs are currently waiting for a place at Fairhaven School in Napier.

Now, two new specialist classrooms set to be built at Onekawa School could support up to 20 of them.

The satellite classrooms are part of a $30 million investment announced in Budget 2025 to expand specialist education across New Zealand, including 18 satellite classrooms and five new spaces at base specialist schools nationwide.

The new facilities will be managed by Fairhaven School, which specialises in supporting children with special needs.

Principal Daiane Whyte said the additional space will make a real difference for locals.

“This is going to enable us to support more learners in a mainstream setting, definitely promoting inclusion and reducing travel distances for whānau,” Whyte said.

“We’ve got a waiting list with over 30 kids, so this will support maybe 16 to 20 of them.”

Fairhaven typically limits classes to seven or eight students to accommodate different levels of need.

While the additional classrooms will ease pressure, Whyte acknowledges there will still be children waiting.

“What it means is that the whole community is going to have to support these kids to be well-resourced in their local school settings ... And then as space becomes available, the parents have a choice to bring them to our school,” she said.

“We know we need more spaces, but it is a start, and we are very thankful.”

Napier MP Katie Nimon said construction at the Onekawa School site is expected to begin within the next 12 months, “using faster and more efficient building methods”.

“This investment will give parents greater choice and confidence, knowing their children can learn in an environment built to support their individual needs – because we know that mainstream settings aren’t the right fit for every child,” Nimon said.