Classrooms double at Fruitvale School in New Lynn

Gardens are a feature at New Lynn's Fruitvale School. Photo / Fruitvale School website

Permanent classrooms at New Lynn's Fruitvale Primary School will more than double from eight to 18 in a $9.5 million project to cope with growing population in the area.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye visited the school this morning to unveil plans for a new two-storey, eight-classroom block plus a two-classroom satellite unit of Carlson School for Cerebral Palsy.

There are now eight permanent and two temporary classrooms at the school.

"Fruitvale Primary is one of a number of schools in New Zealand that have experienced weathertightness issues as a legacy of the leaky buildings era," Kaye said.

"Combining weathertightness remediation with the project to build roll-growth classrooms makes good sense in this instance, as it will achieve time and cost efficiencies and minimise disruption to the school's activities.

"As its name suggests, Fruitvale Primary has beautiful gardens, featuring an orchard, native plants and a stream, and it is part of a collaborative local school community.

"The addition of the satellite unit to provide learning support for students with special education needs will further strengthen the school's welcoming and inclusive nature.

The Fruitvale project follows a $3.8 million classroom block planned for Long Bay Primary School and a $4 million repair job at Long Bay College, on top of $158 million announced in June and October last year for new classrooms in Auckland.

"As a result of these investments, we're on track to deliver more than 17,000 new student places in Auckland by 2019," Kaye said.

"Since 2014, around $375 million has also been approved for major redevelopments at 18 schools in Auckland. This is part of the greatest spend ever on school infrastructure by a New Zealand government, which so far has seen over $5 billion committed for new and upgraded schools and classrooms since 2008."

Fruitvale Primary School is working with other schools to form the Kotuitui (Green Bay) Community of Learning.

The decile 4 school has a roll of 268. The roll dropped from 272 in 2006 to 211 in 2010, but has grown again in the past seven years.