Rotorua's John Paul College - Independent review finds allegations of racism and elitism false

An independent review into John Paul College has found allegations of racism, elitism and bullying to be false. Photo / Andrew Warner

Allegations of racism, bullying and elitism at Rotorua's John Paul College are "false or incorrect" an independent review has found.

The reviewers have made recommendations to the college going forward including appointing a senior leadership team member responsible for Māori achievement, developing relationships with iwi and regularly updating the board of trustees on student retention and reasons for leaving.

Earlier this year the college's board of trustees ordered an independent investigation "by its own choice" after the Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe, received a complaint via email regarding alleged "systemic racism'' resulting in Māori whānau either withdrawing or choosing not to enrol at the college.

Board of Trustees chairman Jean-Paul Gaston told the Rotorua Daily Post at the time the board had started the independent review in the interests of transparency and objectivity.

John Paul College board of trustees chairman Jean-Paul Gaston. Photo / NZME

This week, the college confirmed the review was completed and had been released to the board, staff and the college Whānau Support Group.

The report found the evidence gathered did not support the allegations made.

"The notion of 'systemic racism' arises from a response to an email sent by a current board member who cited the unavailability of the whare to students at interval and lunchtimes while the International Room was.

"While this is not a case of 'systemic racism' further support needs to be created if the needs of whānau are to be met and heard."

The report said there had been small fluctuations in the distribution of Māori students across year levels, reaching its highest total of 228 this year. There had been a "slight drop" in the number of Pacific students since 2017.

"The school's Pacific Island co-ordinator suggests that this reflects the increased number of Pacific families moving out of Rotorua," the report stated.

Among the recommendations, the report suggested the school work with current school kaumatua to develop tikanga protocols associated with the Whare Tāpere.

It found there was no evidence to suggest the principal and senior leadership team were deliberately setting out to establish an "elitist" school by forging ties and favoured status with Otonga and Lynmore Schools.

Gaston told the Rotorua Daily Post any member of the John Paul College community was provided with the opportunity to be interviewed or to make a submission on the report.

The report states, as a result of this, the reviewer spent an additional two days in the college meeting "interested parties".

"It is heartening that the review has definitively shown the allegations made in the complaint to be false or incorrect," Gaston told the Rotorua Daily Post.

Gaston said school staff were working to create an action plan around the report's recommended improvements at the college.

"John Paul College is a high performing school and continues to look to be more bicultural and Te Tiriti (Treaty) led.

"As a school, we will also continue to seek opportunities to support our Māori and Pacifika students to achieve as Māori and Pacifika people."

In an emailed statement, independent reviewers Violet Pelham and Aramoana Mohi-Maxwell said: "The evidence gathered does not support the allegations made."

The pair both have a history in education.

They said the school had adopted a series of recommendations as a result.

"This should assist and accelerate the school in its bicultural journey to becoming a Te Tiriti o Waitangi led school."