Two Northland schools return to self-rule

Two Mid North schools which had commissioners installed after running into problems last year have returned to self-governance.

Last June the entire board of Kerikeri Primary School resigned in an apparent bid to force the Ministry of Education to intervene. It is thought the board had reached an impasse with principal Paul Lindsay, who had been on leave since early 2014, though the reasons were never made public.

The Ministry appointed commissioner Chris Saunders to run the school until a new principal was appointed and fresh elections were held. Andrew Read, whose last post was in Blenheim, started as principal in January. A new Board of Trustees was elected last month and officially took over on April 1. The new chair is Maree Urlich.

Meanwhile, a new board has also been elected at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whangaroa, where the Ministry stepped in after controversy about the legality of a previous board election.

In January 2014 the school's roll plummeted by more than half after parents withdrew their children amid concerns about the 2013 election and for their children's safety.

The Ministry dissolved the board and appointed a commissioner who was tasked with keeping the school running and investigating the election. A long and bitter dispute ensued between parent factions, the Ministry and Te Runanganui, the governing body of kura kaupapa in New Zealand.

The ousted board took the Ministry to court but the parties settled two days before the hearing was due to take place. The settlement included a new commissioner who was fluent in te reo and well-versed in the principles of kura kaupapa Maori.

The fresh election has returned some of the same trustees who were ousted last year, including former chairman Terry Smith. The board's spokeswoman during the dispute, lawyer Moana Tuwhare, was also elected.

The Advocate understands the parents who withdrew their children last year, with the intention of eventually going back, no longer plan to return. Most now attend a bilingual unit at neighbouring Matauri Bay School.

- Five Northland schools are currently run by commissioners, down from 10 in September last year. They are Northland College, Te Hapua School, Ngataki School, Mangamuka School and Kaikohe Intermediate, while a limited statutory manager (LSM) was appointed at Tikipunga Primary School in December 2014. Kaitaia Abundant Life School returned to self-governance in October last year and Tangowahine School in November.