Tiny Northland school defying orders to close

A tiny Northland school is digging in against a ministerial directive that it must close in January.

Orauta, a 30-pupil kura kaupapa Maori school about 8km from Moerewa, was one of several schools in the area identified in a recent Ministry of Education review as likely to close or merge with others.

Orauta board of trustees chairman Ken Brown said the school's response to yesterday's confirmation of closure was: "We're not moving. We accept the board of trustees will go but we'll carry on with a new board under Maori incorporation."

A dawn ceremony was scheduled for 5.30am today during which two flags - the Union Jack and the 1835 flag of the Confederation of United Tribes - were to be raised and the school's new name blessed.

The school, to be known as Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Maara o Hineamaru Ki Orauta, would be run by a new board of trustees under a Maori incorporation, Maunga Hikurangi Maori Koporeihana.

Mr Brown said 90 per cent of parents with children at the school are beneficial owners of the incorporation, formed last October for employment, business and educational purposes.

In other final decisions released yesterday on Northland schools, Motatau School will be retained and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere will also remain, although it is to relocate on to the Moerewa School site.