Gang man's son starts new school

Mana Taitapanui (second from left) with Anaheraopono Mana, Tamatoa Kingi-Taitapanui and Michael Clay. Photo / Katee Shanks

The son of a Whakatane gang member who was banned from going on his son's school camp started a new school this week.

Skip Taitapanui hit the headlines in June after he was told by James Street School principal Norah Schreiber he was no longer welcome to be a parent helper.

Yesterday his son, Mana, had his first day at his new school, Te Kura o Te Paroa — a school which welcomes the gang member as part of its community.

Last week Mr Taitapanui got a letter from the board of trustees of James Street School telling him it had "unanimously decided to uphold the principal's decision" to exclude him from his son's term four school camp.

Although initially told he had been selected as parent help for the camp, the principal reversed that decision telling Mr Taitapanui it was because he was an "active gang member".

However, in its letter the board said the reason behind the decision was student safety.

The board also considered the matter closed.

While disappointed, Mr Taitapanui is looking forward and not backward.

"I'm sad because I did not get the opportunity to sit in front of the board and address any concerns they had," Mr Taitapanui said.

"And I'm also concerned the school still haven't been able to tell me what their policies are for parent helpers and why Mana's mother couldn't go [on the camp] in my place."

He said it had been upsetting to see his son withdraw from his friends and activities at James Street School after the camp decision had been made.

"Mana started telling me he was sick in the morning but would come right later in the day. He was quiet and not his happy self," Mr Taitapanui said. "I think, on his behalf, it was more embarrassment than anything. He'd already told all his mates his dad was coming on camp.

"Mana made it very clear he did not want to be at James Street School."

So, in spite of wanting his son to remain at the school, Mr Taitapanui agreed to enrol Mana at Te Kura o Te Paroa. "He has a lot of whanau at the school and had been wanting to go for a while I think."

Principal Drew Manning said Te Kura o Te Paroa had been happy to welcome Te Manawairua to the kura yesterday morning.

"We love all new enrolments," Mr Manning said.

He said the school supported any parent that supported their child and that would not change.

"We are a patch-free school, and we have policies around volunteers the same as any school, but we also recognise reality and gangs are the reality for some of our students," Mr Manning said.

When the Rotorua Daily Post caught up with Mana during his lunch hour his smile could not have been any wider. Surrounded by whanau and friends, he was clearly enjoying his first day.