NZ looks to spend $2b on US planes

‘‘It immediately gives the audience a perspective of what type of person you may be or what type of background you come from,’’ she said. ‘‘But it shows, with our students, that that is not correct. Our students have the privilege of growing up with their nan and koro and extended family. They have awesome parents, and teachers that give up their own time to help our children achieve.’’

Former Maori Party leader and principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tawhiuau, Pem Bird, said the students would not have done as well in mainstream education.

‘‘It makes perfect sense to be schooled in who you are, this is where kura-a-iwi comes in because Maori are first and foremost, iwi people,’’ Bird said. ‘‘If the educations system is relevant to who we are as Maori, it’s not a miracle that those schools will forge ahead.’’ THE New Zealand Government is considering buying four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes from the United States, which could cost up to NZ$2.03 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in the United States has released details of the ‘‘potential sale’’ of up to four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes.

The DSCA said the New Zealand Government intended to use the planes to replace its retiring P-3 maritime patrol fleet.

‘‘This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security of the United States by strengthening the security of a major non-NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability within the region,’’ the DSCA said.

A New Zealand Defence Force spokesman says the price is likely to be less than quoted by the DSCA and the government was considering options to replace the its P-3 Orion fleet. A letter of offer and acceptance was part of the process.

It was non-binding, and did not mean the Government had committed to buying the aircraft.

The cost indicated was a ‘‘notto-exceed price’’, and higher than the Defence Force expected to pay.

Any decisions about what the next steps might be in purchasing the planes would be made over the next couple of months.

According to the Boeing website the planes are designed for ‘‘long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions’’.

The proposed sale of the equipment would not alter the basic military balance in the region, the DSCA added.

Those results were achieved across a range of core curriculum subjects and external exams.’ DEPUTY PRINCIPAL RANGIMARIE MAHUTA