December 20, 2016
Rangiawhia closure inevitable
Education Minster Hekia Parata says long standing problems at a far north kura kaupapa Maori proved too difficult to resolve.
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Rangiawhia at Whatuwhiwhi on the Karekare Peninsula closes this week.
In July Ms Parata sacked the newly-elected board and put in a commissioner after the principal and two teachers quit.
She says she regrets the closure but it was inevitable when a new principal could not be found.
"We’ve worked with Te Runanganui o Nga Kura Kaupapa. We've offered a prnicpals recruitment allowance, which is significantly above what the school roll would otherwise attract and notwithstanding, with all those extra measures we've been unable to find a tumuaki or registered teachers," she says.
Hekia Parata says the ministry has supported whanau to place their children in other schools.
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