Claims of racism at school

The Ministry of Education has been asked to step in over a spat at Taradale High School in Napier amid allegations of racism and gang conflict.

There have been four expulsions, a pupils' protest and threats to pull students out of the school.

The situation came to a head when the board of trustees expelled four students after an incident in which a Pakeha boy is said to have produced a knife in a dispute with a younger Maori pupil.

A letter, understood to have been signed by more than 200 pupils calling for action against Maori students - seen by some as a Black Power faction - was presented to the board hearing, after which a suspended student, the brother of a girl who circulated the letter, was allowed to return to school.

Board chairman Brian Calcinai confirmed the student was allowed under "quite stringent conditions", which are understood to have included an apology.

Black Power leader Mane Adams, who was called in by staff this year as a volunteer to work with problem children because of his rapport with some families in the school, claimed the school treated Maori differently from the others.

- NZPA