Education Minister Hekia Parata has sacked the board of trustees at Moerewa School and installed a commissioner to run the school.
The minister's shock move came late yesterday after the school had earlier in the day welcomed 17 senior students back for term two with a powhiri in defiance of ministry orders. The school had been ordered to shut its senior unit, which teaches Year 11-13 students via a satellite arrangement with Kia Aroha College in Auckland, as from yesterday.
The news was delivered to the school via email at 3.45pm, with Mrs Parata going public 15 minutes later.
Principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera said last night she wanted to inform parents and discuss the ramifications with them before commenting publicly.
About 70 parents and community members turned out to a meeting at the school last night, originally called to seek their views on the senior unit's future. Instead, Ms Milne-Ihimaera told them about the appointment of commissioner Mike Eru, in charge of the 280-pupil school as of yesterday.