Rural communities marginalised and failing tamariki
Every child in New Zealand should have access to a quality education. This essential foundation unlocks the aspirations and potential of our future generations. However, an alarming divergence in educational opportunities is widening the divide between our urban and rural communities – casting a dark shadow over the educational landscape of our country and limiting our rural tamariki’s ability to dream, believe and rise.
It takes a village to raise a child. Our village is New Zealand and the responsibility to raise the next generation spans across Wellington, the regions, our communities and into our own homes.
And yet isolated rural communities find themselves marginalised as declining populations and dwindling school rolls place heavy financial pressure on their remaining rural schools and boarding facilities.
The coastal town of Kawhia and its surrounds is one of these isolated communities.
Kāinga Rua – Falloon House, our boarding facility at Ōtorohanga College, is the latest in a long list of rural boarding facilities that closed its doors due to financial viability and the associated costs of running and maintaining boarding facilities.
Our vast district spans from the Rangitoto ranges to the Kawhia harbour on the west coast. It is a varied social demographic. Many whānau on the coast are living on family land and despite best endeavours, some have struggled to pay our modest boarding fees. In years gone by, payment was offered by way of lambs.
No child determines who they are born to, where they live or how they are educated. For the tamariki of these rural families, the boarding facilities are vital to staying connected to the local school community and an education which will open new doors.
Ōtorohanga College was built on land gifted by Ngāti Hinewai, for the purpose of education of our tamariki. Māori have led the aspiration for our tamariki since our formation. We have a responsibility to continue to honour this.
Kāinga Rua – Falloon House was opened as a weekday boarding facility in May 1975 when the then Department of Education decided to close Kawhia District High. It was a commitment to this rural community that their tamariki would still have access to a local education at Ōtorohanga College, at an affordable price.
It was “built” by the Department of Education who relocated and repurposed second-hand buildings after Ardmore Teachers College closed the year before.
However, Kāinga Rua closed its doors on Tuesday.
It joins a growing list of rural boarding facilities that have had to close their doors since 1989, when the Ministry of Education stopped funding boarding facilities and placed that responsibility onto the Boards of Trustees.
Kāinga Rua – Falloon House has only stayed open as long as it has, because we have been using money allocated to run the school and achieve school objectives to keep the boarding facility afloat. Put simply, we were taking core education funding away from 300 other children at Ōtorohanga College. That is not the solution.
False hope was given to successive boards that the Ministry would support the renovation and the build of a new facility when that time came.
We have tried for many years to engage with different governments and have been met with a lot of empty promises.
Just last year an MP made a promise at our hui on Maketū Marae to go to Wellington and see what they could do. That was the last we heard from them.
I have had personal dialogue with ministers with strong links to iwi make the same promise, with the same result.
Our requests for much-needed financial support to previous and current governments have fallen on deaf ears.
Inaction is a decision in and of itself. And decisions have consequences. In our case, the consequence is the continued education of 25 children.
We are now working with whānau to find alternative private boarding accommodation with family, or a bus service provided by the Ministry.
The current coalition government has a strong focus on lifting education outcomes and a strong focus on regional communities.
We welcome some of this focus in our region.
Some of our most distinguished New Zealanders began their educational journey as boarders in rural schools. This group of alumni encompasses accomplished individuals ranging from neuroscientists and industry leaders to prime ministers, artists and athletes. In a similar pursuit of excellence, our head boy of 2022, a former boarder at the hostel, is now diligently pursuing his degree at Waikato University, exemplifying the same ambitious spirit that has defined our legacy.
These individuals demonstrate that success and achievement can come from any background, including rural or smaller-town environments.
But the debate on equality versus equity is very real when it comes to access to education for isolated rural communities in New Zealand. We need greater funding. If not, we will fail the next generation of rural tamariki, as well as the families living in these areas, and the communities themselves.
Inaction is a decision in and of itself. And decisions have consequences. In our case, the consequence is the continued education of 25 children. Kāinga Rua – Falloon House is the latest in a long list of rural boarding facilities that have been forced to close. SUPPLIED