Hurricane Trevor hits the West Coast

Green Co-leader Rod Donald says Trevor Mallard's visit to the West Coast yesterday did more damage than a natural disaster.

The Education Minister announced last night that he intends to close five schools in the Grey Valley.

"This brings the number of casualties to 38 in the last week," said Mr Donald.

"Trevor Mallard is ripping through the country like a hurricane, cutting down schools and flattening communities. In the last week he has axed five schools in Upper Hutt, 15 in Timaru, 13 in Invercargill and five in the Grey Valley."

"Where will this path of destruction end?"

Mr Donald said he is pleased that Mr Mallard has backed off from closing Blackball School: "Clearly he didn't have the stomach to sever Labour's links with its birthplace, but that's no consolation for closing other schools where community support is just as strong.

"Having visited Kaiata and Ngahere Schools, I believe they deserve to stay open because they provide quality local education to the children of their communities."

Green Education spokesperson Metiria Turei has urged communities facing school closures to not give up: "Fight for your children, your communities and the future of provincial New Zealand, the Greens will do everything we can to support you."

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