No answers given on kura, says Dixon

SITE: The former Arataki Motor Camp is the site where the kura kaupapa will be built. PHOTO/FILE

Hastings District councillor Malcolm Dixon has claimed residents are not receiving "concrete answers" from Tukituki MP Craig Foss about the proposed Havelock North Kura Kaupapa.

The latest in the ongoing debate was an article published in Hawke's Bay Today on Saturday in which Mr Foss responded to questions from Mr Dixon.

But Mr Dixon said Mr Foss made it a personality attack, not answering any of the questions or facing the issue.

"All residents want are concrete answers, but he is just skirting the issue.

"The reactions I'm hearing are that he's had many opportunities to get himself involved and support the people who voted for him."

A representative for Mr Foss said he had nothing further to add at this stage.

Mr Dixon predicted there would be more public reaction once people comprehended the kura would be a "cradle to the grave facility" - which he said Mr Foss had told everyone for the first time in Saturday's article.

"I have a funny feeling there's going to be some huge public meetings with a huge reaction against the member for not informing them."

The new building will allow the school to provide a kohanga reo, a primary school, intermediate, a high school, whare wananga, tertiary and a taikura education for the over 50s, with all subjects taught in te reo Maori.

Mr Dixon said: "That's far greater than a relocation of the Albert St school."

The subject has been controversial since the Ministry of Education announced it was
planning to relocate the Hastings school Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu, to the site of the former Arataki Motor Camp in Havelock North.

Public were not included in the process.