Post
Tuesday • June 10 • 2014 PHONE: 09 235 78 35 FAX: 09 235 78 34
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Weekdays 9am - 5:30pm Saturday 9am - 1pm 37 Queen Street, Waiuku Phone 235 5180
All hands to rescue horse A midnight rescue featured a cast of many in Waiuku last week after a horse slipped into a drain and couldn’t escape. PAGE
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Special moments Two local Dads had a proud moment at Waiuku Rugby on Saturday as their sons received their 50-match blazers. PAGE
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Dirt trackers ready It’s been going for 25 years, and this weekend the winter spring series returns for dirt track racers through a local forest. PAGE
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20 Hall Street, Pukekohe tel: 09 238 3796 free phone : 0800-SEEING Formerly John Kelsey Optometrists
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Happy Birthday! The Waiuku Senior Citizens’ Club yesterday celebrated 49 years as an organisation, with a great turnout of members and guests at the Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club. Cutting the celebratory cake were current president Jill Sutherland, and former long-serving president Irene Roff.
INSIDE THIS WEEK: PG 14 & 15
Post Motoring
VOL 26 • NO.22
Your fortnightly motoring guide..
Primary School asks Ministry for intervention The controversy and investigation over teacher allegations that the principal of Waiuku Primary School manipulated student data earlier this year took another twist last week, as the school’s Board requested a ‘statutory intervention’ from the Ministry of Education. Teachers wrote to the Board earlier this year, unhappy over the way student data had been treated, and the Board, after taking advice, appointed an independent investigator to address the issues, a process which was anticipated to take a few weeks. However, the Post understands that, after conducting a number of interviews, Wayne Sneddon, the investigator requested to look into the issues, halted his work with the school. The Post attempted to speak to Mr Sneddon to clarify what happened, but he initially said he had nothing to do with the school, then hung up when we asked whether he had been involved at all. Following the end of Mr Sneddon’s work with the school in late May, the Board then met with advisers from the Ministry of Education and the NZ School Trustees Association and agreed to request an intervention as a way forward. At this stage, the Board will continue to govern the school.
Katrina Casey, head of sector enablement and support with the Ministry, says the Ministry is yet to decide the best course of action. “Investigations are initiated by schools when they consider a matter requires investigation by a third party expert. “In the case of Waiuku Primary, the board of trustees informed us that the investigator they originally appointed decided to withdraw from the investigation. He recommended that other skills were needed to fully carry out the work and suggested that the board ask for additional Ministry support,” she said. “The board has now requested a statutory intervention. We are currently in the process of preparing the information required to make a decision about whether a statutory intervention is appropriate and, if so, what the level of support would be. Until a decision has been made the board will continue to govern the school with ongoing support from the Ministry and the New Zealand School Trustees Association. “The board acknowledges its challenges and has been proactive in bringing these to our attention. We are satisfied that the board wants to address the identified issues and, in the circumstances, is doing all that can be expected.”
Councillors say Mayor has ‘lost the plot’ As pressure grows to develop an adequate public transport system for the Franklin region; particularly in view of the anticipated massive growth in the next few years projected for the area, three Auckland councillors have voiced concerns over recent mayoral statements. The councillors say it’s a complete surprise that the Auckland Mayor is now actively pushing another costly rail project without any discussion with councillors nor is a Manukau light rail loop in any Auckland Transport or Auckland Council budget or plan. Howick councillors Dick Quax and Sharon Stewart and Orakei councillor Cameron Brewer believe the Mayor needs to stop promising so much, and focus on delivering existing projects. Their comments follow Len Brown’s sur-
prise comments printed in an Auckland newspaper, where he said: “We want to run light rail from Manukau up through Clover Park, all along Te Irirangi Drive, up to Highland Park, up Panmure Highway and back to Manukau.” Dick Quax says: “This smacks of the Mayor’s 2006 promise to deliver light rail from Bucklands Beach to Mangere Bridge. “He just can’t be taken seriously with these kinds of ridiculous promises which never come with any costings, backing or evidence. “However, the alarming thing here is supposedly some kind of investigation is already underway - no doubt involving a raft a consultants. It needs to be stopped now, before the big bills start coming in.” Cameron Brewer says: “I seriously think the Mayor has lost the plot. He keeps dreaming up all these projects with no idea of where the
money is going to come from. “He’s flaying all over the place. Delivering a funding plan for his City Rail Link is where his focus should be, not dreaming up local light rail projects with the sole hope of winning back some support in the south.” Sharon Stewart has serious concerns about the costs and potential impact on ratepayers. “Rates keep going up and council debt is soaring. “The council is under enormous pressure to cut costs, yet the Mayor is racing around promising to spend even more. “Let’s not forget that communities are already complaining that many of our town centres, parks and streets are untidy. “I think we need to focus on delivering on council’s core business first and foremost before adding to the wish list,” says Ms Stewart.
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43 QUEEN ST, WAIUKU • PH 235 9711 • SAT: 9 - 4 • SUN: 10 - 3
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