Education has been named one of the big winners in the Budget with $11 billion being injected into the sector, but local principals are disappointed with no increase for schools' operational funding.
An extra 1.4 billion over this year and the next four years will be injected across early childhood, primary and secondary education.
Rotorua Principals' Association president and Ngakuru School principal Grant Henderson said from a financial point of view, education was a winner, but to be real winners, it would come down to the details of how that investment was spent.
"The $43 million for schools to target the most at-risk students is good, but only if it goes straight to the kids. I am worried we will see that money go to the adults facilitating, organising and creating criteria for the programmes designed to help the children."
Mr Henderson said while it was great to see $11 billion injected into the sector, it was concerning none of that went towards increasing the funding that covers the cost of running a school.