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Source: ONE News -
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Ngai Tahu have come up with a scheme to save Christchurch's
Aorangi school from closure over its falling role and dilapidated
buildings.
The iwi has offered to pay to rebuild the school in what would be
the first public-private school partnership between an iwi and the
Crown.
But the Education Minister, Anne Tolley, still has the final call
on the plan.
The possibility of having the school shut down is not sitting well with the students.
"I can't say how I'd feel, 'cause there's actually no words, but probably the most feeling I feel would be hatred and disgusted," says student Tearoa Marsters.
But Ngai Tahu have offered the school a lifeline in offering to pay for the rebuilding of the school.
"We would consider anything that a) keeps the school open and b) gets the best results for our kids here," says Andrew Oh, Aorangi Board of Trustees.
They have been told that the 90 pupil decile three school may be
shut down. It has a 40% Maori roll and a popular bilingual
unit.
Tolley had asked for submissions and the board was due to meet on
Tuesday afternoon. The meeting never took place but there is still
some hope.
While Ngai Tahu is not prepared to step out of their offices and into the public arena, they say they have been strongly supportive of Aorangi.
The iwi is concerned that a school with a bilingual unit may be shut down and they have said they want to be proactive in their support.
The school would like to see this kind of support from the Minister.
"We would like her to come down and meet our community and judge
for herself that actually we're pretty good people, we're doing a
good job," says Aorangi Principal, Stephanie Thompson.
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