Successful Māori charter school to lose staff in move

A successful Māori charter school in Whangarei has gained approval to become a state school. Te Kāpehu Whetū  - the Maori Star Compass - is bilingual and coeducational - and was named by legendary waka builder Hek Busby. It was set up four years ago by Māori community leaders appalled at the high failure rate of Māori boys in particular at state schools in Whangarei. Only 19 percent were gaining basic NCEA levels, and many were dropping out and joining gangs. But last year the school's UE pass rates were the second highest in Northland and above the New Zealand average. The chief executive of the charitable trust that runs the school is Raewyn Tipene. She told Northland reporter Lois Williams they'll have to lose a lot of their support staff in the shift to the state system.