The government is being accused of exploiting the Christchurch earthquakes to force through sweeping changes to schools in the city.
A month on from the Christchurch earthquake, all but a handful schools in the city are back up and running.
The Ministry of Education has been forced to apologise for its flawed handling of school closures and mergers after the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.
Home address-based school zoning regulations are widely used in many countries as one means of selecting pupils and estimating future enrolment. However, there is little research regarding an alternative system of zoning for parents’ place of employment. Previous research has failed to analyse potential impacts from workplace-based zoning, including negating the effects of chain migration theory and settlement patterns to facilitate cultural integration, promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of families by enabling their close proximity during the day, as well as positive results concerning a volatile real estate market. As the modern family more often consists of one or both parents working full-time, the requirement of children to attend school near their home may not be as reasonably convenient as near their parents’ workplace. A case study was performed on one primary school in Christchurch, consisting of surveys and interviews of school stakeholders, including parents and staff, along with GIS mapping of school locations. This found deeper motivations for choosing a primary school, including a preference for cultural integration and the desire to school children under 14 years near their parents’ place of employment in case of illness or earthquake. These data suggest that the advantages of workplace-based zoning may be worth considering, and this thesis creates a framework for the Ministry of Education to implement this initiative in a pilot programme for primary schools in Christchurch.
A photograph of two people looking at an AWA Trail map. The photograph was taken at the launch of the Aranui AWA trail at Aranui School. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 2 September 2015 at 3:55pm.
A video of a protest against the Ministry of Education's proposed school closures and mergers in Christchurch. More than a thousand people marched from the CBS Arena to the Ministry of Education office on Princess Street as part of the protest.
A worried Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, tells John Key, the Prime Minister, that schools in Canterbury are resisting being merged. John Key replies that the government will go through a 'consultation process' and then 'do what we like'. However the schools are claiming marae status and thus protection under the Treaty of Waitangi. The 'Hui report' which the Prime Minister is holding confirms this fear. The Ministry of Education, given the excuse of the Canterbury earthquakes, announced that many schools there will be merged or closed. Threatened schools, particularly the two Maori language schools, lodged complaints with the Waitangi Tribunal. 'Hui reports' refers to the claims and resulting hui over the water rights of the proposed partial privatisation of state assets. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
A photograph of the earthquake damage to St Paul's School in Dallington. Large cracks can be seen in the surface of the asphalt. Silt from liquefaction is visible in front of the school buildings. Tape has been placed on the building to keep people away.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Arts College".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Arts College".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Arts College".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Arts College".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Arts College".
A map showing the site of a proposed expansion of the University of Otago's medical school.
A page banner promoting an article about Minister of Education Hekia Parata's visit to Christchurch schools.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Children from Discovery 1 School".
Reporter Jessica Horn is at Burnside High School, where a welfare centre has been set up.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Here we can see why Redcliffs School is still closed".
A web story about a site visit to the Bridge and Arch by local school pupils.
Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, School of Humanities, with his new book of poetry, Shaken Down 6.3.
Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, School of Humanities, with his new book of poetry, Shaken Down 6.3.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Children from Discovery 1 School".
Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, School of Humanities, with his new book of poetry, Shaken Down 6.3.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake. Children from Discovery 1 School".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Portaloos and temporary water tank at the Heathcote Valley School".
A photograph showing St Paul's School's damage in Dallington, following the series of earthquakes in Christchurch.
Road cones on the street beside the St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church and School.
Children of Mt Pleasant School add flowers to a memorial of the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A sign for the Christchurch School of Music on Barbadoes Street".
A graphic promoting a video on the press.co.nz site, titled, "What makes our schools so special".