30 JUNE 2015

Stop Driving Bulldozers through Christchurch School Communities

It’s time for Education Minister Hekia Parata to see sense and listen to the community of Redcliffs School in Christchurch, says New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Tracey Martin.

“Redcliffs School is at the heart of a community that’s been torn apart by the devastating earthquakes. It’s become a stabilising factor in the lives of families, but Mrs Parata wants to end that by closing it next year, because of the potential risk from future rockfall.

“The school’s board has spent time and money investigating whether its pupils are safe if the school remains open and the expert opinion is that they are. It’s outlining its case in a 50-page submission being delivered to the Ministry of Education this afternoon.

“The Minister cannot continue to remain inflexible on the issue. Why does she insist on driving a bulldozer through Christchurch school communities with closures and mergers?” says Mrs Martin.

“While the Minister claims to be worried about the safety of Redcliffs pupils, she ironically places them in potential danger if the school closes and pupils have to cross busy roads to get to alternative schools some distance away.

“Redcliffs School has been drawn even closer together as it fights to remain open, but communities are becoming exhausted by a Minister who won’t listen and won’t see sense,” says Mrs Martin.

“New Zealand First offers its support to Redcliffs School in its fight against an uncaring government.”

ENDS

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