By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com
The Government has announced a package of temporary measures to help schools cope with soaring fuel costs caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Education Minister Erica Stanford confirming increased mileage rates, cash grants for small schools, and accelerated replacement of diesel boilers.
Stanford, speaking alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, said she had instructed the Ministry of Education to contact every school to assess the impact of fuel‑price pressures and identify where immediate support was needed. She said the Government was preparing for “a range of potential future scenarios” as the fuel crisis continues to disrupt transport and heating costs across the country.
The Relief Teacher Transport Allowance will rise sharply — from 37c to 83c per kilometre for cars and 15c to 31c for motorbikes. The increase takes effect immediately and will remain in place for 12 months, or until fuel prices fall below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks.
Stanford said she expected unions to support the move. However, she acknowledged that many small rural schools would struggle to absorb the higher reimbursement rates from their operational grants. To address this, the Government will provide a one‑off $2,500 cash grant to every school with fewer than 100 students.
The conveyance allowance — which helps families cover the cost of getting children to school or to the nearest bus route — will also increase by nearly 30%, benefiting around 5,000 students.
Replacing Diesel Boilers
The Government will invest $37 million to speed up the replacement of diesel boilers at up to 70 schools, a move expected to save around 600,000 litres of diesel per year. Stanford said the upgrades would reduce operating costs while improving long‑term resilience.
The Public Service Association (PSA), in comments published by Scoop on 19 April 2026, welcomed targeted support but urged the Government to go further. The union said the fuel crisis was placing “significant pressure” on education workers and school operations, and called for a more comprehensive plan to protect frontline staff and ensure schools can continue functioning reliably during prolonged fuel disruptions.
