Steve
CHADWICK
Labour List MP in Rotorua

Locals fight school closure

16 November 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT

The Kawerau community came out in staunch support of their condemned Intermediate School last night, vowing to continue to fight the school’s closure, says Labour List MP based in Rotorua Steve Chadwick.

“This is now an election issue for the people of Kawerau,” Steve Chadwick said.

About 100 people turned up last night to a public meeting at the intermediate school to express their concerns.

“Local people expressed frustration at not being heard or visited by the Minister. A school should be the centre of the community, but as a result of National’s mismanagement the community has lost faith in the process.

“The community is fed up with Education Minister Anne Tolley’s arrogance, and local National MP Todd McClay’s ineffectual advocacy for their views. Local people have chartered a bus and intend showing up en masse at the multiparty debate due to be held in Whakatane this Friday night,” Steve Chadwick said.

“The community want its local knowledge and insights included in a vision for their kids and Kawerau. The debate on Friday is the only chance they feel they will have to express their views directly and have MPs held accountable for their decisions.

“We need change In Kawerau; we need fresh ideas and opportunities. But these cannot be implemented in a top-down fashion without real consultation. That’s the Anne Tolley approach, and it doesn’t work,” Steve Chadwick said.

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