Historic girls' school to close gates

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK education reporter

Auckland's only Maori boarding school for girls is to close.

The 100-year-old Queen Victoria school has fought to keep its doors open to secondary school students for the past 15 months, when its owners announced plans to shut the Parnell school because of financial problems.

But the St Stephen's and Queen Victoria School trust board said yesterday that the school would close permanently at the end of the year - 12 months after the closure of St Stephen's in Bombay.

Trust chairwoman Rangi Pouwhare said that Queen Victoria was no longer viable academically or financially.

The school roll has dropped from 160 in 1992 to 54 this year.

"It is a sad time, but the trust board is convinced that its decision is the right one in the interests of better education for young Maori women," said Ms Pouwhare.

Founded in 1901, the Anglican boarding school has been running at a loss for several years.

A scathing Education Review Office report this year said the integrated school was on the verge of insolvency, and it also raised concerns about students' safety.

St Stephen's was closed because of concerns for the health and safety of its 80 students.

Ms Pouwhare said the trust planned to open a new co-educational secondary school for Maori some time, although no details were available.

No decisions have been made about the future of any of the trust-owned land, worth more than $25 million.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said he was saddened by the closure of Queen Victoria, which had produced some of the country's great Maori women leaders.

Ranked among the old girls are Dame Mira Szaszy, a former president of the Maori Women's Welfare League, and tennis champion Ruia Morrison.

But Mr Mallard had "a lot" of concerns about Maori education in NZ. "We, as a community, don't do as well as we should. It's something that Maori schools don't share on their own."

Queen Victoria closed for the day following yesterday's announcement, with internal student exams cancelled. Students were treated to a trip to Parakai hot pools instead.

Queen Victoria board of trustees chairwoman Nin Tomas said students, the school's 18 staff members and the community were shattered by the news. "We've fought the decision the whole way. We are very disappointed and distressed."

She said a revitalisation plan, involving a new school principal and curriculum, had started to turn around the school, but the trust had ignored any progress made.

There are six remaining integrated Maori boarding schools.