Stepson's school fees cost NZ man $1000 a term

By ANGELA GREGORY

A man forced to pay thousands of dollars to send his Thai stepson to school is furious the Ministry of Education will not grant the teenager an exemption.

New Zealand-born Colin Ridgeway has in the past couple of years been charged $1000 a term to send his stepson Jack, 15, to Whangamata Area School.

Mr Ridgeway married Jack's mother, Riam, in Thailand nearly seven years ago and Jack arrived on a student visa to live with them five years later.

Mr Ridgeway, who has a car repair business, said Riam was a permanent resident in New Zealand and also worked as a chef.

But Jack was not a permanent resident because the couple had been unable to get legal custody due to bureaucratic problems in Thailand.

The ministry allows free schooling for the children of work permit holders, refugee status applicants and permanent residents where the child is also a permanent resident.

In rare situations, children such as Jack are without permanent residency despite one parent being a permanent resident and the other a New Zealand citizen.

The Secretary of Education has the discretion to waive the charges in special cases but has twice decided against Jack.

Whangamata Area School principal Kit Williams said the school had written to the ministry in support of getting an exemption for Jack but had been told it would be setting a precedent.

Immigration Service spokesman Brett Solanders said the service had no discretion regarding permanent residency criteria.