Pupil staunch in fight for intermediate school

Kunere Timoti led fellow Kawerau youngsters in showing their support for keeping the school open. Photo / Alan Gibson

The 12-year-old boy who fronted a mass haka yesterday in a bid to save a Bay of Plenty intermediate school wants to know why Education Minister Anne Tolley wasn't there to see it.

Kunere Timoti was among nearly 1000 schoolchildren and residents who gathered at the steps of Kawerau District Council to present a submission to stop the town's intermediate school being closed.

The proposal is part of a restructure of the six existing schools in the town.

The community has rallied against the plan, and yesterday stood beneath New Zealand flags and placards reading "S.O.S. - Save our School" and "Community Voice".

Many asked why Mrs Tolley had not attended the rally, but a spokesman for the minister said she had not been invited.

Mrs Tolley's parliamentary colleague, local National MP Todd McClay, accepted the submission and promised the crowd he would give it to the minister within hours - but Kunere said that wasn't good enough.

"She should have been here today to see what the community thinks," the school's student leader said.

"Then she'll know what it's like to be at Kawerau Intermediate.

"We'll carry on and we won't give up until we get what we want."

Kawerau mother Charmaine Teirney said she had two children about to attend Kawerau Intermediate "and there's no other option for them".

"I don't want to send them anywhere else. It's a fight worth fighting and that's why we're here today."

Mrs Tolley said yesterday: "I've made it clear I have an open mind, and I look forward to receiving the final submissions."

Submissions close tomorrow and the changes are expected to be implemented at the start of the first term next year.