Acting New Plymouth principal Kealy Warren says she felt physically ill when she heard a private green school in her community had been given $11.7 million by the government.
She says her low-decile Marfell Community School struggles with leaky classrooms, outside courts that are a safety hazard and not enough technology devices for all students to learn.
Green Party co-leader and associate finance minister James Shaw announced the 'shovel ready' project earlier this week, claiming it would secure 200 construction jobs in the region.
Even his own party isn't convinced, with both candidates and former MPs publicly slamming it.
Kealy Warren spoke to political reporter Jo Moir about the message of worthlessness it sends to her students when a private school like the Green School receives so much money.
