Complaint laid over charter school bid

National has lodged a complaint with the Auditor-General over the Government’s handling of the potential closure of charter schools.

Education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye said she sent the letter of complaint yesterday, outlining what she saw as potential issues to be investigated regarding the Government’s handling of the potential closure of partnership schools.

The complaint covered two areas: Education Minister Chris Hipkins’ handling of discussions with schools relating to the potential closures; and some ministers’ ‘‘perceived conflicts of interest’’.

Kaye said Hipkins had made ‘‘several unfortunate comments’’, which indicated he had a ‘‘closed mind’’.

There was ‘‘potential evidence that the schools have undue pressure being put on them to terminate their contracts’’, she said.

‘‘I believe the minister’s and the ministry’s process is fundamentally flawed and there is public interest in investigating it.’’

The future of New Zealand’s partnership schools has been under the spotlight as the Labour-led Government makes good on its long-time policy of getting rid of the partnership schools model.

Initially, it was understood this would mean the existing schools would be forced to close.

However, Hipkins has since said the plan was to work with partnership schools to transfer them to special character schools.

During discussions on the subject, the interests of ministers Willie Jackson, Kelvin Davis and Peeni Henare were called into question by National.

Jackson, Davis and Henare all have connections with charter schools in Auckland and Northland.