Dismay at closure mooted by Minister

Thursday 15 October 2015

The Board of Trustees for Turakina Maori Girls’ College is dismayed at the impending closure of their heritage institution as mooted by the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata.

“For 110 years, whānau throughout New Zealand have enrolled their girls at the school, a school which during consultation over the last six weeks has been described as “taonga Turakina” because of the educational, cultural, social, spiritual, and leadership achievements associated with its students” said PiriHira Tukapua,

“The Minister’s own report states that the recent consultation process has shown a “widespread and dedicated commitment to the future of the school”.

“It was pleasing to see the reference made to our alumni association, Nga Wahine Tawhito o Turakina Nga Hara Inc, as providing evidence of a “strongly motivated and organised momentum on the part of a large number of school alumni to support the school”.

“We echo those endorsements – the engagement and energy of Nga Wahine, and their determination to work closely with all parties, has given us all great optimism about the capacity to forge a stronger foundation for our future”.

“Despite this, the evident concern from the Minister about the seeming indifference of the Proprietors to our fate is the foremost issue for our Board”.

“The Jewel in the Crown of the Presbyterian Church appears to have been thrown on the stockpile with no recourse from the Church. We cannot help but wonder how it is that the Church holds approximately $180 million in the Presbyterian Investment Fund and yet has allowed the financial position of their ‘jewel’ to deteriorate over time”.

“During our consultation rounds the question has emerged, what is the church’s commitment to Turakina given that it appears they have allowed the partnership to lapse?”

“We disagree with the Minister that the drop in enrolment has been about choice; we believe the commitment of future new students has been limited by fees, a factor that we believe the Proprietor could address. If the boarding fees were restricted to an exclusive focus on operational expenditure that could assist affordability; leaving the capital costs to be covered by the Proprietor”.

“Throughout our consultation, the Board of Trustees has been heartened by the consistent leadership and support offered in our campaign, through local iwi, Ngati Apa; through the Rangitikei District Council and other members of our community and of course the school alumni. None of us want to stand by and let taonga Turakina close. We invite the church to join with us and share our new mission, “Miria te pounamu piata ana”; Polish the gem till the brilliance shines through.

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