Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Education

18 February 2013

Minister Sends Shockwaves through Christchurch Schools

New Zealand First is urging the 19 Christchurch schools still slated to close or merge to keep up the fight to save their communities.

The Education Minister has announced today that seven Christchurch schools will close and 12 will merge as part of the Government's education shake-up in the post-quake city.

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin says she feels for all those connected with each school – the students, teachers, parents and the wider school communities.

“While today’s announcement is good news for those which will remain open, it is heart breaking for the seven schools which are closing and lumps even more uncertainty on those whose fate remains up in the air.

“These schools stood by their communities following the devastation of the earthquakes and what a shame the Government hasn’t chosen to stand by them.

"If the Minister's banking on the school community having a short memory come election time, she should think again.

“Schools won't forget the scars National is etching into communities but the battle isn’t over yet.

“Schools still have another six weeks to lodge submissions and even though today’s announcement has left them shell-shocked I’d encourage them to stay strong,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>