Furniture and equipment funding for state schools

We provide furniture and equipment funding to school boards. It includes funding:

• based on your 5 Year Agreement (5YA) budget for upgrading and modernising furniture and equipment 
• provided as part of a building project to fit out the new space with furniture and equipment
• for schools undergoing major redevelopments, rebuilds or relocations
• to enable students with learning support needs to attend your school.

5YA furniture and equipment funding

Your school receives funding to upgrade and modernise furniture and equipment. It’s paid as a percentage of your 5YA budget. The percentage funding rate depends on your school type.

The rates for schools in new 5YA cycles from 2026-2027 are: 

• contributing primary (Years 1–6): 7.09%
• full primary (Years 1–8): 7.63%
• intermediate (Years 7–8): 8.87%
• composite (Years 1–15): 8.87%
• restricted composite (Years 7–10): 8.87%
• secondary (Years 7–15): 8.87%
• secondary (Years 9–15): 8.87%
• specialist school: 7.98%.

Schools in earlier 5YA cycles will continue with the previous furniture and equipment rates until they start a new 5YA cycle on the higher 5YA base rate.

• Contributing primary (Years 1–6): 10.64%.
• Full primary (Years 1–8): 11.44%.
• Intermediate (Years 7–8): 13.30%.
• Composite (Years 1–15): 11.97%.
• Restricted composite (Years 7–10): 13.30%.
• Secondary (Years 7–15): 13.30%.
• Secondary (Years 9–15): 13.30%.
• Specialist school: 11.97%.

We pay the grant directly to your school bank account in 2 instalments. You’ll receive:

• 2/3 of the funding contribution on 1 July of the year you enter your new 5YA cycle.
• 1/3 of the funding contribution in December following the Year 3 5YA review.

If your school is getting a new teaching space, you’ll get funding for furniture and equipment to fit it out (though this does not apply if the project is funded with 5YA funding).

We’ll calculate the amount of funding you receive based on the number of square metres of new space your school is getting.

• For regular spaces including gymnasiums, funding is at $160 per m2 of new space.
• For specialist teaching spaces, funding is at $450 per m2 of new space. These are spaces where specialist teaching occurs such as technology rooms and performing arts spaces.
• Areas like corridors, circulation space and toilets are not included in the calculations.

To receive the funding, you’ll need to invoice us.

We may provide money for furniture and equipment as part of a redevelopment, rebuild or relocation project that we manage. This does not apply to projects funded with 5YA funding.

Funding is calculated on a per m2 basis.

• For regular space including gymnasiums, funding is $80 per m2 of space.
• For specialist teaching space, funding is $225 per m2 of space. These are spaces where specialist teaching occurs such as technology rooms and performing arts spaces.
• Areas like corridors, circulation space and toilets are not included in the calculations.

To receive the funding, you’ll need to invoice us. 

When a student with learning support needs enrols in your school, additional funding may be available to pay for things like a movable changing table or hoist.

The student must qualify for learning support property modifications funding. We provide it as part of your property modification project budget.

There may be other types of funding available. Contact the learning support team in your regional office for advice.

You must follow accounting rules when recording furniture and equipment funding. The Financial Information for Schools Handbook (FISH) contains guidance on how to do this.

When you buy new furniture or equipment, you must record it in a fixed asset register.

Financial information for schools handbook – Ministry of Educationopen_in_new

As outlined in the Property Occupancy Document, school boards are required to:

• manage, maintain and upgrade school furniture and equipment
• arrange insurance coverage for furniture and equipment – you can arrange your own insurance, or join our risk management scheme.

You must do a stocktake of all items in your fixed asset register at least once a year.