Press Release (Saturday 30 June, 2012)
Board of Trustees Kawerau Intermediate
The Kawerau Intermediate Board of Trustees will head to into the High Court in Rotorua this coming Monday 2 July to
challenge the Minister of Educations decision to close the intermediate school. The Board remains steadfast in its
belief that this decision never considered the views of the community and that it is placing vulnerable children in
danger. This view is supported by almost all of the Kawerau Community as evidenced by a recent petition taken across the
town.
Residents were asked to indicate their preferred options for year 7 and 8 students schooling in the town. Those over the
age of 18 had the opportunity to tick in favour of retaining a separate intermediate school or in favour of the
Ministers proposal for a dual campus school. 2295 signatures were gathered (approximately 60% of the towns adult
population. Of these 2281 (99.4%) signed for the retention of separate intermediate schooling. 14 residents (0.6%)
signed for the proposed year 7-13 dual campus site. Residents in signing for the retention of a separate intermediate
school do so in their knowledge of the vulnerability of children in Kawerau. The high youth suicide rate, teen
pregancies, prevelant gang culture and extreme levels ofpoverty serve to heighten the risk. These factors so well known
by the Kawerau Community have been brushed off by the both the previous and current Ministers of Education.
The Kawerau Intermediate Board sought a meeting with Minister Parata to try an avert the need for the legal action to
take place. A meeting was granted to our Board Chair, Principal and legal representative, and this took place on thepast
Thursday 28 June. The content of the meeting as agreed remains confidential but the it was clear that the Minister was
not open to seeking a solution in the interests of the children of Kawerau.
The community preference for retaining separate intermediate schooling in Kawerau has remained unwavering for the past
18 months. Parents, Caregivers and the wider community understand and know what is best for childrens education in
Kawerau. They are fully aware of the extreme danger in which children as young as 11 will be placed in the proposed year
7-13 school.
The question is not ‘if’, but ‘when’ a serious incident occurs as a result of putting younger children into a decile 1
school in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will the Minister, Ministry and those involved be prepared to accept responsibility?
Ends
--
--