Tararua principals vow to keep Tolley to her promise

Principals of the Tararua schools eyed for the axe say they won't be letting Education Minister Anne Tolley break a publicly-made promise.
Ms Tolley said on current affairs show Close Up on Friday night she would not close any of the schools if their communities wanted them to stay open.
"I am a rural MP myself and I know how important rural schools can be to their communities," she added in a press statement.
"It is up to these communities to decide how best to educate their children. If they want the schools to stay open then I will not be closing them."
She said the proposal to close Kumeroa-Hopelands, Mangamaire, Mangatainoka, Hillcrest, Ballance, Papatawa and Makuri schools had been put up by the Bush District Education Plan working group for the communities to debate and they had until next Monday, August 17, to make submissions.
"I would urge all of those involved to make their voices heard to the working group, the schools and the Ministry of Education. We need everyone to work together to improve education for the children in these areas."
Mangatainoka School principal Anne Corkran said she would definitely be holding the Minister to her promise and remained wary of political assurances.
"What happens if the working group reports back to the community doesn't want? And then how can she assure that what the working group wants is not what the community wants?
"Because, so far, any trust in this whole process is long gone," Ms Corkran said.
"You'd hope you could take her at face value, but then you know the process is very politically-driven. She is still basically a new kid on the block and I don't know how far you can trust her.
"I just hope that she does prove to be trustworthy, but running on politicians' reputations, I'm not holding my breath waiting for it."
Balance School principal Vicki Maugham was "pleasantly surprised" Ms Tolley was so open, but hoped she would listen to "all of the community - and not just the people who came up with this draft proposal".
Kumeroa-Hopelands School principal Jo Gibbs said her pupils were yesterday "ecstatic" after the pledge.
"They had their whole world crashing down on them but now they can see that everything is going to turn out all right.
"But I've told them not to forget writing letters."
The pupils had also written messages and a protest song to recite at a public meeting with the working group in Woodville tomorrow, Ms Gibbs, who was confident the Minister would keep her school open, said.
"I think she's adamant that she understands how rural schools run and that they're absolutely vital for their communities. I don't think there's any chance she'll go back on her assurance."
Mangamaire School principal Kirsty Silvester said while the promise was a boost, it was no reason to be complacent. "It's still a wait-and-see, but we are really hopeful she will keep her word."
Hillcrest School principal Jo Emmerson agreed: "We expect her to keep her word. After making such a strong assurance on Close Up, I think she'd find it difficult to retract it."