Kids or roads? Kindies lose

Two childcare centres in Hobsonville are being forced to close. With no plans to find new homes for at least a year, parents are devastated; community groups are angry. Joanna Davies reports.

It's an idyllic spot for a kindy. Away from busy roads and surrounded by horse paddocks, it would seem there's little for parents of Hobsonville North Kindergarten children to worry about.
But they do worry. Hobsonville Land Company has told the centre it must make way for the new suburb's main road. Furthermore, on the old Hobsonville air base, Te Reo Tohu Aroha Te Kohanga Reo childcare centre is also having to find new premises.
Parent Sarah Collins, whose daughter, Georgia, goes to the kindergarten, says the situation is frustrating. "This kindergarten has been in the community for over 30 years. There will be nothing here for the new community if these have to close."
The kindy must vacate its premises by December 2011 and, according to Hobsonville Land Company's plans, no schools with land for a childcare centre are proposed until 2013.
At the moment, the Defence Force owns the land the kindergarten stands on, but Hobsonville Land Company will buy it in September 2010. The company already owns the land under the kohanga reo.
Mrs Collins' biggest concern is there are no plans for an early childhood centre to be built before 2013, leaving at least a one-year gap in which there will be nowhere for young children to be taught.
Instead of being offered new land, Auckland Kindergarten Association has been told it can tender for one of the new daycare sites, against other providers.
Peter Pablecheque is the assistant general manager at Auckland Kindergarten Association, which owns the kindergarten. He says parents and staff are devastated. "The Hobsonville Land Company haven't offered us a different site.
"They have said we can tender for land but, as a charitable trust, it will be hard to raise at least $1 million for land and $1.5 million to build a centre. Our rolls are full and there is a waiting list for places at all of our kindergartens."
Hobsonville Land Company's chief executive, Sean Bignell, says land will be available for three early childhood centres - one on the primary school's land and two at the high school.
"The company is disappointed that the Auckland Kindergarten Association has decided to close the kindergarten currently onsite at the end of 2011.
"The possibility of the kindergarten moving to the primary school site was discussed with the association and remains the company's preferred option," he says.
"However, centres on school sites are tendered and the association have told us they are not confident that they can raise the funds for construction due to other commitments across Auckland."
But Mr Pablecheque says the solution should rest with the company. "We are not giving up our land - we are having it taken from us, we are being kicked out. If Hobsonville Land Company is so disappointed we are leaving, why do they not offer us a new permanent lease site on similar lease conditions, or redirect the new road around our existing location?"
At the kohanga reo, chairwoman Margaret Mead shares similar sentiments. "We are basically being kicked out," she says. "We have offered to lease the building, and fix it up, but we are being bulldozed into this situation that we don't want to be in."
Mrs Mead says parents have formed a committee to look for a solution. "These services are needed here for English [non-Maori] children as well as Maori.
"The kohanga has been here since day dot on the air force base, and the kindergarten has been here as long as I can remember."
The Air Force is keeping a close eye on the situation. Base Auckland commanding officer Richard Marshall hopes other land can be found for the centres. "We're very keen to see both of these centres continue because we see them as a part of us and an important part of the community," he says.
After hearing concerns from air force staff who use the centres, he is looking to see if any other defence land could be used for their relocation.
"There is a degree of uncertainty about the feasibility of this, but these centres are part of our community."
ECE does it
Under the Government's 2010 Budget, up to $420 million is being cut from Early Childhood Education over the next four years. The centres hit worst are those with more than 80 per cent of their teachers qualified, meaning parents may have to pay more to make up for the shortfall.