Foss breaks silence over kura issue

Craig Foss. Photo / Warren Buckland

The public stoush over the proposed Havelock North kura kaupapa came to a head this week at a meeting between Hastings councillor Malcolm Dixon and Tukituki MP Craig Foss.

The two men have had a less than private war of words through the pages of Hawke's Bay Today over the past few weeks, with the councillor claiming residents were not receiving "concrete answers" from Mr Foss about the proposed school.

He said in last Wednesday's paper that Mr Foss made it a personal attack, not answering any of the questions or facing the issue.

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

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

At the time, a representative for Mr Foss said he had nothing further to add at this stage.

However, yesterday the MP said he had a very good meeting with Mr Dixon on Wednesday.

"We agreed to keep in direct contact and to regularly share any new information about the kura," he said.

"I have been very active on this issue with key decision makers."

He said while he does not have immediate answers to some of the many questions that have been, and are still being, asked, he would continue to pass on any questions to the minister and Ministry of Education.

Mr Dixon said Mr Foss rang him and asked if he could go around to his place, which he willingly accepted.

"My concerns have been about the process the minister and Ministry of Education have used to make their decision, and the impact on existing Havelock North primary schools as well as the lack of consultation with both communities," he said.

Mr Foss said he understood Mr Dixon's concerns about the process and evaluation of alternative sites.

However, Mr Dixon said the MP did not answer the questions he asked in the paper about the kura, whose ownership it was now in or the social development over the road.

"He said 'I don't know the answers to those so I am not going to pre guess them," he said. "Hopefully he will bring something else back to the table or some other party may wish to."