November 09, 2016
Charter school vote divides Maori MPs
Labour’s Maori MPs are dismissing a challenge by the Maori Party to oppose a bill to abolish charter schools.
The bill from Labour's education spokesperson Chris Hipkins is due for its first reading today.
As charter or partnership schools are an ACT policy with the full support of Nation, the Maori Party votes will be enough to kill the bill.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says kura hourua are having a positive impact on Maori children.
Labour’s Kelvin Davis says the Maori Party MPs should join Labour in backing the bill so all schools can be put on a level playing field.
He says there’s room in the existing system for special character schools which can meet the needs of those pupils now in charter schools.
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