In a surprise move Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust has announced that its boarding facilities will continue to be available next year.
A statement by Murray Painting has expressed optimism about the school’s future.
News reports have been confused. Some have referred to Painting as the newly elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It seems however that he is the chair of Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust.
Hato Petera College has two boards.
One is the Whanau Hato Petera Trust, which is responsible for the dorms and the lease of the land.
The other is the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for education.
The Whanau Hato Petera Trust does not come directly under the authority of the Ministry of Education.
“The trust wishes to advise the parents, students and staff that the boarding facilities will be open and we look forward to welcoming them at the commencement of the school year in 2016,” Painting said.
“With the refreshing of the governance team of the Trust, we are determined to meet this challenge head on.”
“We look forward to opening in 2016 with a student body that will benefit from the renewed energy and determination that the Trust has to create a centre of pastoral care second to none with access to a centre of educational excellence.”
In October Te Whanau o Hato Petera Trust and the Catholic Diocese of Auckland announced the closure of boarding facilities at Hato Petera.
The Trust said it has serious financial issues and this will only become worse because of the financial costs associated with the facilities.
It said that “the current operating model for the hostel does not adequately meet the needs of our students.”
On Monday Painting said the Trust looks forward to a fruitful and productive relationship with the bishop and the diocese.
“The Auckland Catholic Diocese has always played an important role in the life of Hato Petera College.”
“Hato Petera has been the jewel in its crown as far as the secondary school education of Maori students in the diocese is concerned.”
“The Takapuna land grant deed vested in the diocese for educational purposes by the then governor Sir George Grey has been the site of Hato Petera since its inception.”
“Hato Petera has been the jewel in its crown as far as the secondary school education of Maori students in the diocese is concerned.”
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