The funding package was announced in late 2019 but applied only to state schools.

Last year, state-integrated schools' proprietors filed papers in the High Court seeking a judicial review of Education Minister Chris Hipkins's decision to leave them out.

The preliminary court hearing was delayed and rescheduled to take place in early March, rather than last month as was originally arranged, New Zealand Catholic Education Office (NZCEO) associate chief executive Paul Ferris (pictured) says.

"The Crown Law office asked to extend the time for the hearing, while they sourced some documents," he says.

The Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools' view is that the government should have included them in the handout because state-integrated schools are entitled to the money as much as any other state school.

Unlike state schools, however, state-integrated schools can charge attendance dues to cover costs not provided by the state.

Ferris says: "This is not a matter of discretion, this is a legal entitlement that we have under the agreements we have with the government on integration."

"In the Catholic space, we give the government the use of $2.6 billion dollars worth of property to use rent-free every year and the government agree to maintain it to a similar standard to a similar state school and if they spend it on a state school, they should be spending it on a state-integrated school."

Back in 2019 Hipkins defended the government's stand, saying integrated schools were already getting more than $65million to upgrade and modernise buildings, under existing policy for 2020. He also noted integrated school proprietors could charge attendance dues.

The Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools' response was that if other state schools can get double funding in this regard, integrated schools should too. There is an agreement with the Crown that they be treated the same way.

Last year, Hipkins said he was hopeful of finding a solution early in 2021.

Citing lack of funding because of Covid-related issues, Hipkins now says "any initiative to accelerate upgrades of state-integrated schools will now need to be considered as part of decision-making for Budget 2021."

Ferris says: "We remain committed to the principle that state-integrated schools were to be maintained in an equivalent manner to state schools, and, no matter where the funding is generated from, the Government has an obligation to fund our schools in the same way.

"Covid responsibilities continue to focus on the minister.

"This makes the wider education sector appear to take second place to the challenges created by his duties with Covid management."

A statement of defence from the Education Minister was filed last year, in response to the schools' court action.

The NZCEO indicated last year that after negotiations, the Ministry of Education "recommended the settlement we had worked towards."

Source

• NZ Catholic
• RNZ
• Image: New Zealand Catholic Education Office

These plans were announced in a press statement last year by Catholic Education Office chief executive Paul Ferris.

He said the Church had bought 25ha in Burtt Rd, Drury, South Auckland three years ago for a new 1,000-student, $40m co-educational high school.

Ferris explained the plans couldn't progress without Ministry approval.

Approval is required because the state pays up to 85 per cent of the cost of new integrated schools.

Ferris also pointed out in his press statement in July 2018 that " 1,000 kids [were] travelling from the Pukekohe area to Catholic schools in the city every day,".

Nothing further was said until last week. However, on Friday, the NZ Catholic reported that the Minister of Education had approved the Auckland diocese's application to begin integration negotiations for a proposed new Catholic year 7-13 secondary school in Drury.

According to NZ Catholic, the Ministry of Education is to begin a consultation process with relevant schools and institutions, alongside the negotiation process.

Auckland diocese vicar for education Linda McQuade has now sent a letter to south Auckland Catholic primary principals and boards of trustees chairs.

In it, she wrote that the diocese was delighted to have received the correspondence from the Minister.

"It has been over 20 years since the establishment of a Catholic secondary school at Drury was first seen as an important addition to the network of Catholic secondary schools within Auckland diocese," she wrote.

McQuade also noted that, at present, transport costs could be a barrier for access to Catholic secondary schools for families in South Auckland.

A new Catholic secondary school in the Drury area would, if approved, reduce the number of students leaving south Auckland to access Catholic education.

It would also reduce the non-productive time for students travelling to and from school, she wrote.

At present inn the Auckland Diocese, there are 24,000 young people enrolled in 43 primary schools and 15 secondary colleges.

Source

• NZCatholic
• nzherald.co.nz
• educationcentral.co.nz
• aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• Image: thecollegian.co.nz

The triennial conventions are designed to ensure that catholic schools remain authentic in their commitment to Church and State, as vibrant communities of faith and learning.

The theme of the Convention is Christ's Call: to love, to be, to do/Ko Ta Te Karaiti Karanga: kia aroha, kia tuturu, kia ora.

Paul Ferris, the CEO of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office which has organised the event, said "While managing these events is a huge task, it is important because it reminds our community of our diversity and our national coverage."

New Zealand's bishops are attending and virtually every catholic school has delegates attending.

Teachers from schools and catholic tertiary educators will present a range of seminars.

International speakers have come from the United States, England and Australia.

Highlights include:

• David Wells, international presenter based in England - Keynote address: "Shoulder my yoke and learn from me" - Catholic Education and the Art of Accompaniment
• Franciscan priest Daniel Horan, from the United States - Keynote address: The Joy of Christian Foolishness: Responding to Christ's Call to Discipleship in the Age of Pope Francis
• Br David Hall, Sydney - Keynote address: Catholic Schools and the Possibility of God

Catholic schools make up 8.4% of the Government's overall provision for education. There are 238 schools, with 66,000 students.

Catholic schools were among the first to integrate following the 1975 integration legislation and they have a long partnership with the state, providing high-quality education across all deciles.

Minister Jenny Salesa is unwell and will not be able to present to the convention as planned. She will be represented by Iona Holsted, the Secretary for Education.

In a year when the Government is undertaking reviews of many aspects of education, it is important that catholic schools review the ways in which they play a critical part in the delivery of education and consider what works well for them.

Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
• cathedconvention2018.co.nz
• Image: cathedconvention2018.co.nz

He replaces Brother Sir Patrick Lynch who announced his retirement last year.

Ferris took up his position on February 1.

He has come from a strong background in school leadership in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Ferris was a Principal for 36 years in both state and state-integrated schools, and has been part of the evolving story of state-integrated schools and the part they play in the New Zealand schooling system.

More recently he has been a contractor to the Ministry of Education as a Commissioner and Limited Statutory Manager in a number of schools in the Southern Region.

While the Principal of Kavanagh College, Dunedin, he received a number of awards for his leadership both in the school and across the education sector.

He received a Laureate Award from NZCEO, a Leadership in Education Award from SPANZ (Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand), and is a Life Member of SPANZ.

Ferris was an executive member of SPANZ for several years before becoming its President in 2004.

In Dunedin he was the Founding President of the Secondary Principals' Partnership, which was established to find successful pathways for students at risk of losing their place in school, and he was the founding Principal of DunedinNet, a video conferencing collaboration for all Dunedin Secondary Schools.

In the 2012 New Year Honours list he was awarded a QSM for his work in education.

In 2014 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by the Dunedin Rotary Club, for his services to Dunedin education as a non-member of Rotary.

In accepting the position Mr Ferris acknowledged that following Br Pat Lynch's 22 years of outstanding leadership would be a challenge.

In taking up his new role he noted the support he will receive from a strong board and an agreed transition process, which will ensure there is a seamless passing over of the leadership role.

NZCEO acts as the national office of APIS (the Association of Proprietors of State-Integrated Schools) and individual state-integrated schools, and will continue its support and leadership of all state-integrated schools.

Close relationships with successive Ministers of Education, the Ministry of Education and other government agencies have characterised the success of NZCEO, and Ferris looks forward to continuing these relationships.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: gg.govt.nz

Originally from Wellington, Dr Tuohy was appointed Director of The Catholic Institute in November of last year while she was a Senior Lecturer at the Australian Catholic University's School of Theology in Strathfield.

At the whakatau Dr Tuohy said, "I feel very honoured and a little overwhelmed at the open hearted welcome I have received from the community and would like to thank all the people who have made this exciting job a reality. I am also deeply appreciative of the love and support of my family - and in light of the recent death of my father this ‘coming home' is for me even more timely".

Chairperson of The Catholic Institute Council, Patrick Waite, welcomed Dr Tuohy, and Bishop Cullinane thanked Paul Ferris for his work in establishing the foundations for the Institute. There was a commissioning and anointing ceremony for Dr Tuohy, and staff members lit candles in the colours of The Catholic Institute logo.

Dr Tuohy said she looked forward to "working together to help foster and nurture the work of the Institute - work that we pray brings the ‘living water' referred to in the reading from John's gospel to the Catholic community of Aotearoa New Zealand".

Mr Ferris will begin in July and will work closely with the Institute Council. He will be working for all the bishops to bring together the various parts of the Institute, including the National Centre for Religious Studies and The Nathaniel Centre. The appointment of an Interim Head will allow a number of establishment matters to progress while the Council undertakes a thorough search for a permanent Principal. Mr Ferris will be working from Wellington, but will travel around the country as part of the role.

Mr Ferris has held a number of positions on bodies in the education sector. He has strong skills in translating vision into action, and in building teams. He holds a Commissioner's Licence for the Ministry of Education, and has experience on various NZQA boards and panels. He also has experience in establishing video conferencing networks to deliver education to students. Currently, Mr Ferris is engaged in Catholic Character reviews in the Dunedin and Wellington dioceses.

The bishops, who are the current employers of staff involved, have said there will be no change at this time in the employment situation of those working in tertiary or adult education in dioceses. These people will remain employees of the diocese, with the same lines of accountability, until decisions are made as part of the transition process.

Source

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
• Image: Otago Daily Times