Charter school for Maori boys

Only two new charter schools, one in Napier and one in Hamilton, have been approved to open in 2017, adding to the eight already operating.

Education Under-Secretary and Act leader David Seymour said only two were chosen from 26 applicants, both of which would have a special Maori character.

But he knew of several that would be applying again in 2017 for 2018 openings.

The Napier school will be Te Aratika Academy, a single sex senior secondary school for boys from years 11 to 13. It will have a vocationally focused kaupapa Māori special character, and will target male Māori students.

It is sponsored by Te Aratika Charitable Trust and will have an opening roll of 67, with a maximum of 200 by 2019.

Mr Seymour told reporters at Parliament that sponsors of Partnership Schools, the official name for charter schools, were "some of the most heroic people" he had ever known.

Te Aratika Trust is a new charitable trust formed by Te Aratika Drilling, a civil construction firm across the North Island.

Ronnie Rochel, the director of the company, said that since 1998 she had been working and mentoring young men.

"I am passionate about providing a platform for change," she said.

She saw many young boys come in to apply for jobs and, although they had been through the school system, they were were not employment-ready.