National govt didn't do enough for schools - Hipkins

The Education Minister and his predecessor are at loggerheads over whether National did enough to plan for major population in growth in coming years, and the increased pressure that would put on schools. It's Budget week but before the big reveal Chris Hipkins says he's been curtailed by a billion dollar education fiscal hole - in part to pay for 17,000 extra students over four years. With Cabinet office approval the former minister Nikki Kaye has released the Cabinet paper detailing the Auckland Growth plan, that was not made public before National lost office. It outlines a 30-year year plan to prepare for about 49,000 more students by 2027. Chris Hipkins told political editor Jane Patterson that was already out of date by the time he became minister.