A former teacher of the Parakai School's Māori Medium Unit, Te Whare Kākano has broken her silence. She spoke exclusively to Te Kāea about the school's attitude towards her and the Māori language.
The families of the Māori Medium Unit have also launched an online petition to reopen the unit, even though the axe has already fallen on Te Whare Kākano.
A former teacher of Te Whare Kākano unit says while she was a teacher at Parakai school she was witness to racism.
In June, the school's Board made its decision that the ratio of students enrolled at Te Whare Kākano needed to be 18. However, Shortland says the policy change doesn't match up with the Ministry of Education's student ratio laws.
The Chairman of Ngā Maunga Whakahī o Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, says if a child wants to learn the Māori language, under the Education Act, the Board of Trustees must accommodate that wish.
We tried numerous times to contact the Principal of Parakai Primary, Sean Valvoi for comment however got no response.