October 17, 2013
School antics spark Parakai petition
Parents at Parakai School are circulating a petition aimed at keeping open the last Maori medium education class in South Kaipara.
Carole Povey, whose five year old son was in Te Whare Kakano Maori Medium unit, says the school board seemed determined to close the unit down.
She says the land the school sits on was transferred to Ngati Whatua ki Kaipara in June, but the board turned down an offer from the iwi of financial support.
Ms Povey says the unit was set up by principal Sean Valvoi without consultation with whanau or iwi, and that lack of consultation has continued.
"They had an opening of a radio station at the school. There was no karakia, no blessing, no invitation to any kaumatua, there was no protocol followed at all, and he put a haka on with our childen, our tamariki. He had overseen it and it wasn't good. The precedent he is setting for Maori and the way our students are perceiving Maori is not good, so we want accountability," she says.
Mrs Povey says despite almost half the roll being Maori, Parakai School seems incapable of working with the Maori community.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd