First Specialist Schools In 50 Years To Be BuiltHon Erica StanfordMinister of EducationHon Nicola WillisMinister of FinanceFor the first time in almost 50 years, the Government is building new day specialist schools that will support children with high and complex needs to thrive through its commitment to learning support, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. “The provision of more day specialist schools is long overdue in New Zealand. The new schools bring the number of specialist schools operating across New Zealand to 29, filling gaps in areas that were short on resources. “Since coming to office, we’ve funded 50 new specialist classrooms and the redevelopment of four specialist schools,” Ms Stanford says. “Choices have been limited, due to distance and local specialist schools lacking capacity.