Tears have flowed as staff of sang a waiata at a meeting to oppose the proposed closure of Roxburgh Children's Village.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
More than 50 people were at the meeting in the small Central Otago town this afternoon.
Roxburgh Children's Village is a sanctuary for children aged five to 12 who have suffered trauma in their lives run by Stand Children's Services.
Along with another site in Ōtaki, it is set to close. Stand said that was because it needed an additional $3 million to keep the facilities open, and had not had a funding increase from the government since 2009.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told local mayors on Wednesday there was no additional funding available.
Community social worker Carol Hastie said Labour was breaking the promises it campaigned on by allowing the village to close.
She said nine years without additional funding had taken its toll on the service, and on its Roxburgh village.
Chief executive Fiona Inkpen said in a statement on the organisation's website it had been meeting operating shortfalls from its own reserves, and financial pressures had increased last year following salary increases for staff.
She said more than 50 people were at the meeting in the small Central Otago town this afternoon.
Roxburgh Children's Village is a sanctuary for children aged 5-12 who have suffered trauma in their lives run by Stand Children's Services.
Along with another site in Ōtaki, it is set to close. Stand said that was because it needed an additional $3 million to keep the facilities open, and had not had a funding increase from the government since 2009.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told local mayors on Wednesday there was no additional funding available.
Community social worker Carol Hastie said Labour was breaking the promises it campaigned on by allowing the village to close.
She said nine years without additional funding had taken its toll on the service, and on its Roxburgh village.
Stand chief executive Fiona Inkpen said in a statement on the organisation's website it had been meeting operating shortfalls from its own reserves, and financial pressures had increased last year following salary increases for staff.
She said 63 jobs would be lost across both regions and 380 children a year would miss out on the Children's Village trauma treatment programme.
