Only four of an original nine schools remain in Aotearoa; Hukarere College, St Joseph's Maori Girls' College and Te Aute College in Hawke's Bay (Ikaroa-Rawhiti) and Hato Paora College in Feilding (Te Tai Hauauru).

Hato Tipene closed its doors in 2000 followed by their sister school Kuini Wikitoria in 2001.

Turakina shut down in 2015 and now Hato Petera, based in North Auckland in 2019.

Te Aute College principal Shane Hiha says the school appreciates any political party that supports the "special character" of Maori boarding schools.

"By no stretch of the imagination are we rich schools," he said.

"A number of Maori represent the negative statistics in society and to help them get an education is really important.

"We have 60 boarders and there is every indication that we will have more next year.

Labour's Ikaroa-Rawhiti candidate Meka Whaitiri said Maori boarding schools carry on a tradition that has grown many great Maori leaders.

"This is a significant commitment acknowledging the history and legacy of these iconic Maori boarding schools and how they continue to contribute to Maoridom and the nation today," Whaitiri said.

"The rangatahi who attend these schools live and breathe Tikanga, reo and develop a sense of whanaungatanga that can only be achieved inside these unique institutions.

"Successive governments have given up on Maori boarding schools, but Labour believes in the unique role they play, not just in educating rangatahi, but in instilling Maori values in the next generation of leaders.

Source

• scoop.co.nz
• waateanews.com
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Whether that includes boarders is not clear.

O'Sullivan is the chairman of the 12-person Whanau Hato Petera Trust which manages Hato Petera's hostel.

The school recently announced a review of its structure and the model in which it delivers its education.

It is hoped to complete the review by the end of the year.

Hato Petera recently closed its junior hostel.

Senior students have been told a decision about their hostel accommodation will be made by the end of the year.

O'Sullivan said the hostels were cold, draughty and having plumbing issues.

"They're 83 years old and they look 83 years old. That's one aspect," he said.

"Some other aspects that are challenging for the trust board, to be able to put our hands on our hearts and say we can guarantee everything we offer and promise the parents is the model the right model, the way we run things?

"I think that's what we really want to scrutinise over the next term to figure out ... is that what we really want to be doing."

The Hato Petera land, which was gifted by the Crown for the purposes of Maori education, is the subject of a Waitangi Tribunal claim.

Source

• radionnz.co.nz
• Image: Screenshot

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The number of Marlborough boys attending St Bede's College in Christchurch peaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when boys slept 60 to a room, but parents now demanded privacy says Rector Justin Boyle.

Boyle says Marlborough boys continue to be a small proportion of the Christchurch Catholic college's boarding roll, capped at 130. About six were enrolled in years 9 to 13.

He says family connections with the church had grown more tenuous but demand for boarding places at St Bede's exceeded supply due to the Catholic school's reputation for achievement and its values.

Garin College boarding manager Robert Booth said 20 Marlborough boys and girls lived at the college. They included three year 9 boarders.

Mr Booth, at Garin since the school opened 11 years ago, said Marlborough enrolments fluctuated, with a noticeable drop-off during the wine industry downturn.

Demand for places surpassed availability, he said. Many non-Catholic parents wanted to enrol children at Garin because of its small size and emphasis on moral values, but "non-preferential" places were limited to 10 per cent of the roll.

The ministry figures for Marlborough also included 12 pupils who transferred to day schools around the country and two who enrolled at Catholic college St Peter's in Palmerston North.