Community united in fight to save Hato Petera College from closure
Friday, 5 August 2016
Staff and trustees of an historic Maori boarding college in Auckland that is on the brink of closure have rallied in its support.
The principal of Hato Petera College has accused the school's owner of 'scaremongering' and questioned their motives.
The owner of the Northcote college, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, has begun a consultation process to assess the school's long-term viability.
In recent years the embattled school has faced a dwindling roll, issues with its boarding hostel and governance issues.
**READ MORE:
* Consultation begins on looming closure of embattled Hato Petera College
* Hato Petera's trust board dissolves
* Accommodation to open, says Hato Petera's trust board
* Hato Petera hostel licence faces cancellation**
The first in a series of meetings was held on Thursday afternoon to discuss the long-term viability of the school.
In a statement released after the meeting, principal John Matthews said the school was financially viable and academic rates were positive.
'To suggest the possibility of shutting the doors is just scaremongering and you have to wonder as to the true motivation behind the consultation process.
'Why is this consultation taking place now? And why is it necessary to move so quickly?,' Matthews said.
Chairman of the school's board Mate Webb said closure of the only Catholic Maori co-ed school in the country was unacceptable.
'Parents may fear closure is imminent but perhaps the bishop has jumped the gun.'
Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn said he had concerns about the impact of the school's low number of students, its financial position, the breach of an integration agreement and a breakdown in the school's governance.
A spokeswoman for the Diocese said they had no additional comment in response.