School kids find new home

ALL ABOARD: Taingakore Mclean-Wanoa, 5, Merengaika Hetet-Peina, 6, and Jasmine Pomeroy, 7, on the bus and bound for a temporary new home.PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO 250615WCSMPUTIKI2

Last weekend's flood has provided a little adventure for one group of schoolchildren.

With their school stricken by contaminated silt, the youngsters of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi boarded a bus at Putiki yesterday morning and headed to their new home.

The 60-strong role and the kura staff have temporarily moved in at Kokohuia school in Castlecliff.

The transfer had gone very smoothly, principal Miriama Harmer said. "We were warmly welcomed at Kokohuia, treated as whanau and made to feel at home," she added.

"I think the children found is quite exciting and very enjoyable."

The Putiki primary kids will be rubbing shoulders with their new pals at Kokohuia all next week when the term finishes.

The clean-up is already under way at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, with mass disinfection to take place followed by the laying down of lime.

The school should re-open as normal in July after the holidays.