CASTLECLIFF is set to get a secondary school, which will be part of the Maori school, Te Kura Kaupapa o Tupoho, at 18A/B Cross St.
Yesterday the Wanganui District Council's Strategy Committee agreed council should sell its 8700 sq metre site to the Ministry of Education for the secondary school.
Cr Rangi
Wills suggested council lease rather than sell the land to the ministry, but was told the Crown built schools only on land it owned and had confirmed it wished to proceed with the purchase under the Public Works Act.
Mayor Michael Laws said expanding the existing school so it could take secondary students was "very positive" for Wanganui, for Castlecliff, for Maori and particularly iwi. The declining rolls of some of the city's state secondary schools was not an issue to be taken into account, he said.
"I think council should sell the land with godspeed. Maori at such schools generally succeed better. The (students') parents are interested and actively involved in their children's education."
Chief executive David Warburton told the council the land was freehold and not part of the harbour land endowment portfolio.
