Call for Maori to get half church's assets

Professor Whatarangi Winiata. Photo / APN

An educationist is asking the upcoming Anglican general synod for half the $315 million worth of assets in a church trust, claiming the Anglican hierarchy didn't do enough to save or support dying Maori boarding schools.

Professor Whatarangi Winiata, who established the tertiary institution Te Wananga o Raukawa, is responsible for a motion asking that 50 per cent of the St John's College Trust Board's assets be put under the control of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa - the Maori partner and one of the three arms of the church.

The two other arms represent Pakeha and Pasifika, all three due to meet in Fiji from next Saturday for the two-yearly conference.

Professor Winiata said the Anglican boarding schools of St Stephens, Queen Victoria, Te Waipounamu and Hukarere had all closed as a result of inadequate funding. Hukarere had reopened but, with Te Aute, was experiencing financial distress.

Professor Winiata was adamant the day of Maori boarding schools, which had a history of producing some of the country's best and brightest, had not passed.

Archbishop David Moxon said his Maori counterpart, Archbishop Brown Turei, was responsible for Maori schools. But neither he nor Pasifika Archbishop Winston Halapua were available.