August 01, 2016
Bell tolls again for Hato Petera closure
Auckland Maori Catholic boarding school Hato Petera Maori boarding school could close at the end of the year unless consultation over the next month identifies some way it can remain open.
Bishop Patrick Dunn says he has concerns about the impact the low roll has on the breadth of curriculum that can be offered, the financial position of the school, breaches to the integration agreement, and the breakdown in the relationship between the board of trustees and Hato Petera Ltd, which manages the school hostels.
The school was only able to open this year after a massive voluntary maintenance effort by old boys and supporters to bring the hostels up to standard.
Church spokesperson Dame Lyndsay Freer says the site will continue to be used for an education purpose, but the era of a separate Maori boarding school for the city may be over, with many young Maori Catholics going to schools like Rosmini, St Peters and St Mary’s.
"There are other opportunities for young Catholic people to receive Catholic education if that's what their families want. We're tallking specifically about Catholic deucaiton because that's what the integration agreement is all about, the students being Catholic students and the Integration Act requiring a percentage of students at any integrated Catholic school to actually be Catholic, Hato Petera doesn't comply with those conditions," she says.
The first consultation hui is on Thursday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church Hall in Takapuna, followed by one at St Anthony’s in Kaikohe on Saturday.
Details at http://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com