Craig Foss: Quality education the focal point

Craig Foss

I am very proud of all of Hawke's Bay.

One of our strengths is the quality and variety of our schools.

We have very good state schools, special character integrated schools, kura and bilingual schools, boarding schools, Rudolf Steiner schools, Montessori schools and private schools. Children and young people criss-cross our suburbs and our region to attend school every day.

Some Havelock North parents have told me they are worried about their children's current Havelock North school. If Te Mata, Havelock North and Lucknow primary schools reach capacity and are unable to expand, then of course planning would begin for new facilities.

But, at this stage, population and population growth forecasts indicate the current facilities and sites will be adequate.

I know some people have strong views on the relocation of Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu to the Arataki Road site. I also know people who don't have strong views on it.

I have read and received a wide variety of correspondence about the relocation, from reasonable concerns about increased traffic, to effects on schools in Havelock North, and whether the Arataki Road site is the best location.

I shared these concerns with the education decision makers, asked many questions, and received answers on behalf of those people.

Sadly, I have also received some correspondence that implied or expressed extreme racist comments, which is very disappointing and repugnant to me and I am sure most people in Hawke's Bay.

It is well known that the Arataki Road site was designated as a future site for a school. Yes, we were all surprised at the announcement to relocate the kura, and I said so publicly at the time. I have moved on to ensure locals are informed and have the opportunity for concerns to be heard.

In spite of what some have been saying, I have been working in the background on this issue, talking with key players and interested parties.

They know I have been advocating on their behalf to the responsible Ministers and Ministry of Education. They know I have arranged responses to their correspondence from the Minister or Associate Minister of Education. They know I helped facilitate a meeting with councillors, constituents and the Minister of Education.

Some locals have also expressed their concerns to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister when they visited Hawke's Bay recently.

In my discussions with Ministers and with the Ministry, as recently as in the past two weeks, I have sought and received assurances about correct process, accuracy of population data and projections, Hastings District Council planning, zoning and consenting plans, and whether other sites have been be considered. The decision has been appropriately tested and re-evaluated.

This Government has invested more money into schools to enable them to build facilities that are appropriate for education in the 21st century.

The upgrade at Karamu High School is one such example. This new kura is another opportunity for more Hawke's Bay children to enjoy a quality, modern learning environment. I'm sure no one would want to deny any child that opportunity.

Hawke's Bay is a melting pot of so many cultures. The relocation of the kura has nothing to do with race or ethnicity and everything to do with the quality education of our young people, no matter who they are or what part of our beautiful region they live in.

-Craig Foss is the MP for Tukituki and a government minister.

-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz