Labour Party offers Church advice on Hato Petera College

Friday, December 5th, 2014

The Labour Party has been advising the Diocese of Auckland about how to resolve issues that have arisen regarding Hato Petera College.

An Education Review Office (ERO) report says there is a lack of accord between Hato Petera College and the Auckland Diocese.

The report says it is not clear who has responsibility for the school’s hostel buildings and the land they sit on.

It also notes there is uncertainty over the future of the lease agreement on the school and the accommodation.

Labour’s associate education spokesperson Kelvin Davis said the Diocese needs to act: “The boarding facilities are substandard. It’s a matter between the Diocese and the school, so the Diocese needs to step up and help out.”

“My understanding is that they’re talking but they’re making no progress and we can’t have the boys’ and girls’ education jeopardised because of the facilities they’re living in, and I think it’s an issue that needs to be resolved pretty quickly.”

Davis said he would write to the Diocese to tell Catholic leaders that the situation was “unacceptable and needs to be sorted out”.

Meanwhile New Zealand First is calling on the Government to step in immediately to save the College.

“If it was good enough for the National government to rescue private school Whanganui Collegiate, which had run up huge debt, then it has a duty to save Hato Petera,” says New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Tracey Martin.

The Education Review Office (ERO) has asked the Ministry of Education to partner with the school board and proprietors to resolve issues around the safety of school buildings and the quality of accommodation.

The college, which is on Auckland’s North Shore and has a roll of 108, bills itself as the only Integrated, Māori Catholic co-educational School in the world.

Hato Petera College was founded by the Mill Hill Fathers in 1928, before Marist Brothers took over the school in 1946, when it was registered as a secondary school.

Among its past students are the first Māori Catholic priest Father Wiremu Te Awhitu, academic Professor Ranginui Walker and artist Ralph Hotere.

The ERO Report recommends that the Ministry of Education provide support for the board of trustees and the Whānau Trust in order to bring about the following improvements:

a clear shared understanding of mutual responsibilities in regard to hostel buildings, school buildings and the whole premises of Hato Petera College
a shared commitment to long-term planning to sustain and improve outcomes for the students
heightened expectations that all trustees will act in accordance with their roles and responsibilities
adequate provision for the health and safety of students and staff in the kainga
reduction in the risk posed by historic buildings on site.

The diocese of Auckland says any comment at this time would be inappropriate.

Te Manu Korihi, reports that the college would not talk either, saying the report had not been confirmed.

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