Horowhenua StarManakau Primary School’s board is concerned many of its students will be zoned out of nearby secondary schools in Levin if a Ministry of Education proposal goes ahead unchanged.
The ministry is proposing to introduce zoning to even out lop-sided rolls. The proposed zone area, made public last month, ends north of Manakau, near Kuku.
Those students outside the zone could still apply for those colleges, but there would be no guarantee of acceptance. In the case of limited spaces, they would either not be accepted or be at the mercy of a priority ballot.
Manakau School board member Mel Baxter says many pupils grow up playing sport or joining clubs in Levin and have parents or caregivers employed there.
“The board of Manakau School is deeply concerned about the Ministry of Education’s proposal to exclude our school from the enrolment zones of both Horowhenua and Waiopehu colleges,” she says. “This change would break a long-standing and natural pathway for our students, many of whom have siblings, whānau, and strong community ties to these schools.
“Our children grow up playing sport in Levin, joining in local events, and building friendships that carry them through to college. This proposal risks breaking those connections, and that’s simply not in the best interest of our students or their futures.”
She says removing Manakau from these zones risks severing vital social and educational connections, and undermining children’s access to the secondary schools that reflect their identity, values, and community.
“We respect all educational institutions, but we firmly believe Manakau students deserve to remain part of the Horowhenua network that has served them for generations.”
• Anyone can make a submission on the new zome proposal. Submission deadline is July 15. Send submissions to network.lowerhutt@education.govt.nz
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