Hekia must stop running roughshod over the law
11 December 2012
Hekia must stop running roughshod over the law
The High Court ruling that Hekia Parata acted unlawfully in closing Salisbury residential school is a warning shot for a minister who is running roughshod over due process in Canterbury as well, says Labour’s Associate Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
“The High Court ruling today on Salisbury is a victory for the parents’ persistence, common sense and proper process. It’s also a slap in the face for a Minister of the Crown to have their actions ruled unlawful.
“This must be the end of Hekia’s attempts to close Salisbury.
“But I predict it won’t be the end of these sorts of hearings for Hekia. She is making a habit of riding roughshod over communities’ concerns and that annoying thing called the law.
“In the Salisbury case Hekia announced what she was going do, conducted a dubious consultation and then went ahead with her original plan. That’s worryingly similar with what’s going on in Canterbury.
“The High Court ruling is a serious warning for Hekia. It’s time she followed the letter of the law and respected the views of communities. Otherwise she’s in for more run-ins with the High Court.”
ends