September 08, 2015
Speaker blocks Turakina school haka
The Turakina old girls’ association says it is disappointed Education Minister has refused to receive a delegation from the school at parliament.
Nga Wahine Tawhito o Turakina Nga Hara president Hemaima Eichstaedt says Ms Parata last week gave the school an ultimatum that it had until Labour Weekend to increase its roll for the 2016 year or it would close.
150 students and supporters plan to travel down on Thursday to promote the school, and wanted to do a haka outside parliament.
Mrs Eichstaedt says parliament’s speaker, David Carter, blocked that and also refused permission for Maori Party MP Marama Fox to host a lunch for the group in the building, because it was too political.
He also turned down a request for students to sit in the speaker’s gallery during question time.
She says Mr Carter’s actions are embarrassing and ill-informed.
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