Northland school fights back against closure threat

A Northland community is making a last-ditch attempt to keep its 19-pupil school open.

Towai School principal Brent Davies said the community had been overwhelmingly supportive and was lobbying on the school's behalf.

Grandmother Sharon Hauraki paid for a newspaper advertisement urging past pupils and teachers to make submissions to the Education Ministry to keep the school open.

Nine Northland schools face merger or closure after Education Minister Trevor Mallard reviewed schools in central Northland and the Russell Peninsula.

Mr Davies said the school's change of heart followed Mr Mallard's "back-pedalling" on the issue of school closures and the Government introducing a five-year moratorium on future school network reviews.