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The Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn, has called for a full scale review of Maori education.
When approached by the New Zealand Herald about the future of Hato Petera College, he said the church had serious concerns about the falling roll at the college – which is now below 100 – and wanted to do a full-scale review of Maori education.
“There are no plans to close it tomorrow,” he said.
“But we don’t know the way forward. My education advisers have concerns and the key one is size.”
Bishop Dunn said the church was passionate about Maori education but felt boarding colleges might not be the best formula for that in the modern age.
“We want to support Maori education aspirations but feel we mustn’t pursue personal agendas … or a romantic attachment to the college.”
Hato Petera, in Northcote, is the sole remaining Maori boarding school in Auckland and one of only six in the country.
Two other Auckland Maori boarding schools, St Stephen’s and Queen Victoria, were closed in the early 2000s.
Former board member Norm McKenzie said the great fear was that the school would go the same way. “We are all about the long-term sustainability and longevity of Hato Petera and see the current management and board as detrimental to that.”
Mr McKenzie felt that despite the academic improvement noted in the 2014 ERO report, fewer students were achieving at a high level.
Health and safety concerns were not being addressed properly, he added.
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