Disappointment at end of Tātoru o Wairau

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua Pouwhakahaere Shane Graham says he is compelled to express disappointment over the abrupt cessation of the Tātoru o Wairau project.  

“This initiative, once heralded as a great success by the previous Education Minister Honourable Hekia Parata, held the promise of transformative benefits for our community, embodying our collective aspirations for a brighter future. 

“The path from enthusiastic inception to quiet discontinuation is well documented by Nicola Coburn in her astute opinion piece in Stuff (https://www.stuff.co.nz/society/350186870/thumbs-thumbs-down-just ).  

“Even more disappointing is the apparent disregard for tikanga within the decision-making framework. This oversight not only diminishes the mana of our community but also detracts from the project's potential to enact meaningful change for our entire region.  

“Years of collaborative effort on this project led to many positive gains, such as the cultural narratives of our iwi which underpin our rohe. These must remain as foundation stones for the facilities that will come in the future.  

“We will continue to collaborate with the Ministry and all our partners so our kura can improve and adequately accommodate the needs of our tamariki and their whānau. Our schools must be fit for purpose for learners and for teachers, and for the community that surrounds them.  

“In response to this disappointing decision however, I call upon our MPs, including the Te Tai Tonga MP, to champion our collective voice and convey our disappointment to Education Minister Erica Stanford and her colleagues, advocating for a future where our voices are not only heard but heeded.”