October 13, 2015
Different look needed for Hato Petera
The chair of the trust overseeing hostels at Hato Petera says they’re not in fit condition to house students.
The hostels at the Northcote-based Maori boarding school will close at the end of the year for senior students.
About 25 year 9 and 10 students will be billeted out this term, or they have shifted to other schools.
Lance O’Sullivan says the school needs to take a realistic view as to what it can and should do, rather than struggle along on life support.
"We do have to look at what is the model for 2016 and beyond that schools like Hato Petera need to offer to the wider community and how relevant are we. I think there are some really probing questions there because we can;t continue to do what we've been doing for the last 83 years, we have to look at something different," he says.
Dr O’Sullivan says as a proud old boy of Hato Petera he believes it fills an important role in Maoridom and New Zealand society.
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