Tiny schools defy closure orders

At least two schools have defied orders from the Ministry of Education to close and merge with neighbouring schools by opening their doors for the year.

Orauta School in Northland opened despite warnings from the ministry, which has said it could operate legally only by registering as a private school.

Board of trustees chairman Ken Brown told Newstalk ZB yesterday that the school was registered under a Maori corporation.

The school last year offered the ministry $3 to buy the school's three buildings but the offer was turned down.

The school is also known as Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Maara o Hineamaru Ki Orauta (Maori school in the garden of our ancestor Hineamaru in Orauta) and late last year had just 30 pupils.

A ministry spokesman said parents sending their children to the school could face prosecution.

In northern Hawkes Bay, Raupunga School has also opened despite a ministry decision that its pupils must attend other schools nearby. The school claims to have 24 children on its roll, with the teacher being paid through community donations.

Parents Against Closures chairwoman Anah Aikman said she was aware both schools strongly opposed closing, but had not expected any schools around New Zealand affected by the closures to defy the ministry's orders.

- NZPA