Hon Trevor Mallard
30 January 2004

Proposal announced for Wairoa schools

Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced today a proposal for the future of Wairoa schools that could unlock $7.8 million for local education.

“This review is about making sure local education stays strong and of a high quality to withstand the pressures of declining rolls and the current surplus capacity of 1085 student places. I want education resources to be spent on teaching children, and not on maintaining under-used or empty buildings.

“I have listened to a community desire to retain a secondary option in the area and also to strengthen Maori education.

“This proposal will also result in approximately an extra $2.3 million in education development resources within individual schools, $648,000 for joint education initiatives, and $4.86 million for property work being ploughed back into schools for the benefit of local students. This is in addition to the funds that schools in the area will be entitled to under their five-year property plans.”

“The review has been a chance for everyone to share ideas and work together to ensure Wairoa schools provide a quality education that is sustainable well into the future,” Trevor Mallard said.

Proposals under the review are:
Ohuka School, Putere School, Tukemokihi School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Wairoa are retained as full primary schools;
Wairoa College becomes a Year 7 – 15 secondary school;
North Clyde School merges with Wairoa Primary School on the Wairoa Primary School site to form a contributing school with Wairoa Primary being the continuing school;
Turiroa School merges with Hillneath School on the Hillneath School site to form a contributing school with Turiroa being the continuing school;
Ruakituri School, Te Reinga School and Tiniroto School merge on the Tiniroto School site, as a full primary school, with Tiniroto being the continuing school;
Opoutama School merges with Nuhaka School on the Nuhaka School site to form a contributing school with Nuhaka being the continuing school;
Te Mahia School and Frasertown School become contributing schools;
Raupunga School and Mohaka School merge on the Mohaka School site to form a contributing school with Mohaka being the continuing school;
Kotemaori School and Whakaki School close;
Tuai School and Kokako School close with a new contributing school being established on the Tuai School site.

Trevor Mallard expects to make his final decisions in April after further consultation with the schools involved. Any further submissions are made through their boards of trustees. The Ministry of Education will then work closely with schools to ensure a smooth transition so changes are in place for the 2005 school year.

The board of each continuing school would manage the transition period and govern the proposed new school until elections can be held. One person will be seconded to that board from each of the other merging schools.

The ministry’s submission to the Minister, will be available on the network review section of the ministry’s website from 10am on Monday.

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