If the one thing candidates learn during the coming council election campaign in Lower Hutt, is the real and legal name of our city, I will be a contented person.
"Lower Hutt" is the legal name as determined by the NZ Geographic Board, and to illegally promote any other name for the city without even an application for a name change, is an offence. Such transgressors could be taken to court if individual Lower Hutt residents or groups objected. They could be fined for each and every illegal promotion, and copies of such in council documents, publications, newspapers etc.
Thousands of copies are made public annually, hundreds of thousands since the name change of the council. The council could be charged and fined in court for every one of them. This could apply to the Mayor, David Ogden, his elected councillors and council officers.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Why are we maiming and killing our childen New Zealand?
Why are we maiming and killing our children New Zealand? Read below!
An Auckland toddler, in excruciating pain from broken bones, probably knew crying for help would bring no relief.
'Three minute silence' against child abuse
Police believe the 18-month old west Auckland boy, now getting treatment in Auckland's Starship Hospital, had probably learnt from previous abuse and broken bones he would get no help if he cried out.
"Quite often when babies have been in a situation like that they don't cry because there is no point in crying when nobody is going to do anything," said Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie from the west Auckland child abuse team.
"He might have just suffered in silence."
The toddler was likely to spend the next week or so in hospital recovering from broken bones as social workers looked for a foster home for him.
He was rushed to hospital in June with a broken thigh and a broken arm and doctors have told police he may have had the injuries for two to four weeks before he was seen by a doctor.
He would also have been in excruciating pain.
However, police confirmed the toddler had been in hospital before with broken bones when he was only four months old. Then he had a spiral break to his left arm but was not taken for treatment for 10 days. In a spiral break the bones are twisted apart.
He had been living then with his mother's sister, her husband and their two children.
When the latest injuries happened he was living with his parents and three siblings.
The toddler and his siblings had been removed from his parents by Child Youth and Family (CYF) and his parents had been banned from visiting him in hospital.
One of the latest breaks to his bones was a displaced fracture in his leg, meaning the bones had been allowed to move apart because they had not been treated.
"They are trying to get them to mend but the fact that they have been left for quite a while before they have gone in there, creates certain problems for them mending."
The earlier break on his left arm when he was only four months old was "wickedly displaced", she said.
She said every time he was dressed or moved with the latest injuries he would have been in extreme pain.
"The doctor said he would have been in extreme pain and he wouldn't have put any weight on his leg at all because it was so badly broken."
She said it "just about broke your heart" when she saw the toddler in hospital.
"He was lying there. There was no family around him because they have been told they can't go and see him. So here is this little 18-month-old lying in bed by himself."
- NZPA
An Auckland toddler, in excruciating pain from broken bones, probably knew crying for help would bring no relief.
'Three minute silence' against child abuse
Police believe the 18-month old west Auckland boy, now getting treatment in Auckland's Starship Hospital, had probably learnt from previous abuse and broken bones he would get no help if he cried out.
"Quite often when babies have been in a situation like that they don't cry because there is no point in crying when nobody is going to do anything," said Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie from the west Auckland child abuse team.
"He might have just suffered in silence."
The toddler was likely to spend the next week or so in hospital recovering from broken bones as social workers looked for a foster home for him.
He was rushed to hospital in June with a broken thigh and a broken arm and doctors have told police he may have had the injuries for two to four weeks before he was seen by a doctor.
He would also have been in excruciating pain.
However, police confirmed the toddler had been in hospital before with broken bones when he was only four months old. Then he had a spiral break to his left arm but was not taken for treatment for 10 days. In a spiral break the bones are twisted apart.
He had been living then with his mother's sister, her husband and their two children.
When the latest injuries happened he was living with his parents and three siblings.
The toddler and his siblings had been removed from his parents by Child Youth and Family (CYF) and his parents had been banned from visiting him in hospital.
One of the latest breaks to his bones was a displaced fracture in his leg, meaning the bones had been allowed to move apart because they had not been treated.
"They are trying to get them to mend but the fact that they have been left for quite a while before they have gone in there, creates certain problems for them mending."
The earlier break on his left arm when he was only four months old was "wickedly displaced", she said.
She said every time he was dressed or moved with the latest injuries he would have been in extreme pain.
"The doctor said he would have been in extreme pain and he wouldn't have put any weight on his leg at all because it was so badly broken."
She said it "just about broke your heart" when she saw the toddler in hospital.
"He was lying there. There was no family around him because they have been told they can't go and see him. So here is this little 18-month-old lying in bed by himself."
- NZPA
Monday, July 30, 2007
The time is right to amalgamate the Hutt Valley cities...
While Auckland debates the value of having one super - council in its region, something being considered by central government as well, the time for a similar debate in the Wellinton region is probably as equally as valuable.
In the Hutt Valley it is actually something that has come of age, if you like. Its time is now! I've said it publicly before along with a number of others, that Upper and Lower Hutt cities should be amalgamated to ensure that better planning and utilisation of current and future resources in this valley can be achieved, including that most valuable of all - people!
I have never understood why the amalgamations of 1989 were not completed with the amalgamation of the two Hutt Valley entities as well. In hindsight it was a very bad decision. It allowed the two cities to meander along without real growth or planning for the future.
In Lower Hutt's case they inanely changed the name of its local authority to the Hutt City Council, obviously under pressure from the three former boroughs, Wainuiomata, Petone and Eastbourne. These three new suburbs were given special status by being given elected community boards for second tier representation, while the original suburbs were unfairly given council appointed ward committies. Despite having the opportunity to ensure equal representation for all residents of Lower Hutt City, the David Ogden led council even disestablished the meagre representation of council appointed ward committees.
These former boroughs have pressurised the Hutt City Council into a de facto name change for Lower Hutt(Hutt City) - something illegal and breaching Geographic Board legislation. The Hutt City Council could yet be taken to court and those responsible prosecuted. We all remember the inane threats of secession from Eastbourne when they thought they wouldn't have second tier representation in the next three years. The Ogden led council quickly buckled under to the threats of the over- represented and over resourced Eastbournites. Central government would never have allowed Eastbourne to secede from Lower Hutt in any case.
This final piece of the jigsaw could be debated this year, and a residents poll held in conjunction with next year's parliamentary elections.
If the eventual decision is in the affirmative, a working party comprising city councillors and council officers from both councils could meet as soon as possible to come up with some guidelines on how amalgamation would take place; and whether a city or district council should be established. However the latter could also be decided during a residents poll. A district council would ensure that a lot of the parochialism that exists would be terminated. Second tier representation could also be decided by the new local authority.
In the interim period the Hutt City Council would be well advised to promote the city correctly as 'Lower Hutt', not by the illegal term of Hutt City. They have been in breach of Geographic Board legislation for many years, and could yet be prosecuted if any body or individual within the city objected. Imagine the damage to Mayor Ogden's election campaign if somebody did decide to lay charges with the police in coming week.
In the Hutt Valley it is actually something that has come of age, if you like. Its time is now! I've said it publicly before along with a number of others, that Upper and Lower Hutt cities should be amalgamated to ensure that better planning and utilisation of current and future resources in this valley can be achieved, including that most valuable of all - people!
I have never understood why the amalgamations of 1989 were not completed with the amalgamation of the two Hutt Valley entities as well. In hindsight it was a very bad decision. It allowed the two cities to meander along without real growth or planning for the future.
In Lower Hutt's case they inanely changed the name of its local authority to the Hutt City Council, obviously under pressure from the three former boroughs, Wainuiomata, Petone and Eastbourne. These three new suburbs were given special status by being given elected community boards for second tier representation, while the original suburbs were unfairly given council appointed ward committies. Despite having the opportunity to ensure equal representation for all residents of Lower Hutt City, the David Ogden led council even disestablished the meagre representation of council appointed ward committees.
These former boroughs have pressurised the Hutt City Council into a de facto name change for Lower Hutt(Hutt City) - something illegal and breaching Geographic Board legislation. The Hutt City Council could yet be taken to court and those responsible prosecuted. We all remember the inane threats of secession from Eastbourne when they thought they wouldn't have second tier representation in the next three years. The Ogden led council quickly buckled under to the threats of the over- represented and over resourced Eastbournites. Central government would never have allowed Eastbourne to secede from Lower Hutt in any case.
This final piece of the jigsaw could be debated this year, and a residents poll held in conjunction with next year's parliamentary elections.
If the eventual decision is in the affirmative, a working party comprising city councillors and council officers from both councils could meet as soon as possible to come up with some guidelines on how amalgamation would take place; and whether a city or district council should be established. However the latter could also be decided during a residents poll. A district council would ensure that a lot of the parochialism that exists would be terminated. Second tier representation could also be decided by the new local authority.
In the interim period the Hutt City Council would be well advised to promote the city correctly as 'Lower Hutt', not by the illegal term of Hutt City. They have been in breach of Geographic Board legislation for many years, and could yet be prosecuted if any body or individual within the city objected. Imagine the damage to Mayor Ogden's election campaign if somebody did decide to lay charges with the police in coming week.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt residents against this move while council pondered and discussed just what would be the best representation in the future. But no, the over-privileged self interested zealots in the former boroughs, led by the fools in Eastbourne, jumped up and down and threatened secession from the city.
Did the strong minded burghers in the Town Hall take a strong line and well considered leadership against the rebels? No they buckled like the French Army when the Nazis attacked them during the last world war. The upshot of the matter is the status quo will remain in the three boroughs, but the rest of the original city won't even have council appointed ward committees for the next three or more years.
What a bunch of gutless wonders! It is to be hoped that good council candidates stand in behind Ken Laban as the obvious frontrunner for the mayoralty this year.
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt residents against this move while council pondered and discussed just what would be the best representation in the future. But no, the over-privileged self interested zealots in the former boroughs, led by the fools in Eastbourne, jumped up and down and threatened secession from the city.
Did the strong minded burghers in the Town Hall take a strong line and well considered leadership against the rebels? No they buckled like the French Army when the Nazis attacked them during the last world war. The upshot of the matter is the status quo will remain in the three boroughs, but the rest of the original city won't even have council appointed ward committees for the next three or more years.
What a bunch of gutless wonders! It is to be hoped that good council candidates stand in behind Ken Laban as the obvious frontrunner for the mayoralty this year.
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt r
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt residents against this move while council pondered and discussed just what would be the best representation in the future. But no, the over-privileged self interested zealots in the former boroughs, led by the fools in Eastbourne, jumped up and down and threatened secession from the city.
Did the strong minded burghers in the Town Hall take a strong line and well considered leadership against the rebels? No they buckled like the French Army when the Nazis attacked them during the last world war. The upshot of the matter is the status quo will remain in the three boroughs, but the rest of the original city won't even have council appointed ward committees for the next three or more years.
What a bunch of gutless wonders! It is to be hoped that good council candidates stand in behind Ken Laban as the obvious frontrunner for the mayoralty this year.
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt residents against this move while council pondered and discussed just what would be the best representation in the future. But no, the over-privileged self interested zealots in the former boroughs, led by the fools in Eastbourne, jumped up and down and threatened secession from the city.
Did the strong minded burghers in the Town Hall take a strong line and well considered leadership against the rebels? No they buckled like the French Army when the Nazis attacked them during the last world war. The upshot of the matter is the status quo will remain in the three boroughs, but the rest of the original city won't even have council appointed ward committees for the next three or more years.
What a bunch of gutless wonders! It is to be hoped that good council candidates stand in behind Ken Laban as the obvious frontrunner for the mayoralty this year.
Is there anything more ugly than the new mall in Lower Hutt?
How could the Hutt City Council approve the planning of the buildings?
They all had a golden opportunity to make this mall a beautiful centre of Lower Hutt. It is nothing more than a great ugly concrete ediface. Considering the council we have had for all these years, and also the fact that John Terris was the mayor when plans were made and the building erected, what else could you expect?
There will never be a coordinated plan for the Hutt Valley until Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt cities are amalgamated. There needs to be an overall assessment of the total needs of the Hutt Valley, this can't be done while petty little incompetent politicians hold the reins. They are both a joke! In Lower Hutt there is a pathetic campaign by biased and self-interested people led by groups within the former boroughs of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata to illegally change the name of Lower Hutt to Hutt City. Upper Hutt doen't appear capable of organising a booze up at a brewery.
We have witnessed the pathetic attempts by those self interested minions within Eastbourne threatening to secede from the City of Lower Hutt. Why? Because the Mayor, David Ogden, and his council wanted to have a uniform method of second tier representation within Lower Hutt. This would have meant the abolition of the three elected community boards, as well as the council appointed ward committes. There would not have been a majority of Lower Hutt r
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Our city is officially and legally named Lower Hutt - not Hutt City.
If there is one thing that has infuriated me for several years now that has been the incorrect and illegal use of Hutt City instead of the correct, official and legal term of Lower Hutt.
I have written in the Hutt News and in emails to the Hutt City Council expressing my opposition and personal objection to such usage. Incredibly I have been supported in my criticism by council employees. But it is still council policy to continue to address the city incorrectly as Hutt City. New traffic signs have been manufactured recently which proclaim the way to Hutt City.
The Hutt City Council continues to describe and promote Lower Hutt as Hutt City. I decided to test my belief by contacting the New Zealand Geographical Board and asked them what the official name was for Lower Hutt. I received an envelope full of information which supported my personal claims that the Hutt City Council is actually wrong, and is in breach of the law. They also supported my own viewpoint that the Hutt City Council had never actually taken any legal steps towards an official name change for Lower Hutt, apart from being in contact with and probably having a meeting with a New Zealand Geographical Board representative. End of story!
The New Zealand Geographical Board has stated that they cannot take a case against the Hutt City Council directly, but any individual or organisation would be able to do so. Such action would be embarrasing for the present administration in a local authority election year. If one eventuates they would have brought it directly on their own heads.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The shortsighted Hutt City Council killed off harness racing at Hutt Park Raceway and Wellington...
The shortsighted Hutt City Council killed off harness racing at Hutt Park Raceway and Wellington.
The Mayor of Lower Hutt City, David Ogden, and the Hutt City Council continually seek uses for the old Hutt Park raceway; in fact we have probably had a number of administrations seeking to utilise this valuable piece of land down at Seaview.
Of course if previous administrations hadn't run the old Wellington Harness Racing Club into the ground rather than investing city money into the complex, and failing to maintain the existing buildings on site, there wouldn't be a problem and there wouldn't be an issue, would there?
I won't pretend that I know all the ins and outs about the old raceway, but I do know that the WHRC accused the Hutt City Council of financially ruining the club by reclassifying their status from a sports club to a profit making business, and as a consequence their rates quadrupled and their enterprise was no longer feasible.
Everybody knew that the halcyon days of the club which saw the world champion pacer, Cardigan Bay,the world's first harness racing millionaire, racing at the Park in the 1960's were long gone; in fact horse racing in general, including the galloping code at Trentham, was no longer supported by the public as in earlier years. But things have their cycles - horse racing is on the up and up now, fans are returning, young people have became interested, and sponsors are putting more and more money into the racing game. Harness racing in Auckland and Christchurch is booming - and Wellington has been squeezed right out!
And the Wellington area doesn't have a harness racing track anymore and the WHRC hasn't raced on grass at Trentham for a number of seasons. Everybody misses out because of a shortsighted Hutt City Council. The complex is wasted and nobody really wants to be based there - perhaps because they don't trust an amateurish council.
The Mayor of Lower Hutt City, David Ogden, and the Hutt City Council continually seek uses for the old Hutt Park raceway; in fact we have probably had a number of administrations seeking to utilise this valuable piece of land down at Seaview.
Of course if previous administrations hadn't run the old Wellington Harness Racing Club into the ground rather than investing city money into the complex, and failing to maintain the existing buildings on site, there wouldn't be a problem and there wouldn't be an issue, would there?
I won't pretend that I know all the ins and outs about the old raceway, but I do know that the WHRC accused the Hutt City Council of financially ruining the club by reclassifying their status from a sports club to a profit making business, and as a consequence their rates quadrupled and their enterprise was no longer feasible.
Everybody knew that the halcyon days of the club which saw the world champion pacer, Cardigan Bay,the world's first harness racing millionaire, racing at the Park in the 1960's were long gone; in fact horse racing in general, including the galloping code at Trentham, was no longer supported by the public as in earlier years. But things have their cycles - horse racing is on the up and up now, fans are returning, young people have became interested, and sponsors are putting more and more money into the racing game. Harness racing in Auckland and Christchurch is booming - and Wellington has been squeezed right out!
And the Wellington area doesn't have a harness racing track anymore and the WHRC hasn't raced on grass at Trentham for a number of seasons. Everybody misses out because of a shortsighted Hutt City Council. The complex is wasted and nobody really wants to be based there - perhaps because they don't trust an amateurish council.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Why does the Education Ministry hope to get by with less funding?
While this is obviously a national issue, it is also a local issue. Just what is the Government up to with funding for special needs education? It was reported that Education Ministry papers revealed officials hoped to save more than $23 million in funding for special needs students in coming years.
How would these savings be made? It was suggested it could only be achieved through "underspending" on these children, despite principals up and down the country stating more money, not less is needed.
It was reported by the SUNDAY STAR-TIMES that in papers it had obtained the ministry hoped to underspend in the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme(ORRS)by $23.5 million between 2006 and 2010. ORRS is for the highest special needs - many of whom are in mainstream classes. Why would the ministry make such a strange prediction when everybody involved knows full well that many more funding dollars will be desperately needed in coming years?
It is hypocritical of the National Party Opposiion and a particular spokeswoman to criticise, shed crocodile tears and claim anger at officials who "are picking on the most vulnerable children in society to slash funding". She says most schools struggle for special needs funding and rely on dipping into general budgets , fundraisng or pleading with parents to top them up.
The National Party is directly responsible for the situation under the Education Ministry's Section 9; they dismantled the widesread system of special education schools and many units when they were last in power in the 1990's, and only allowed funding for special need students until they left primary school. Once in Intermediate School they had to rely on the limited funding these schools received and raised.One example of this was my grandson who had good special needs support at Stokes Valley School, but only a total of seven hours mainstream support at Avalon Intermediate. I was told this was quite usual, almost the norm at intermediate schools.
To get ORRS funding a child almost has to be at the stage where they can't walk, talk, feed themselves and aren't toilet trained. I support this claim through first hand involvement wth my granson's education from the age of eight to fifteen years.
I believe the present Government and its Education Minister tried to prioritise the average mainstream education at the expense of special needs education, and their policy has blown up in their faces. New Zealand parents and teachers won't tolerate this situaton any more. The Education Ministry will just have to find the money for special needs education from other sources.They will just have to forget about tryng to save money over the next few years.
The National Party's dubious role should not be forgotten in actually creating this volatile situation, and their hypocrisy in trying to make the Labour Party the villains of the peace should not be forgotten as we move closer to the next general elections. They really are a mean spirited bunch who should be alert to the possibiliies of their own children being victims of such an education system - wealth is no guarantee against childhood learning problems.
How would these savings be made? It was suggested it could only be achieved through "underspending" on these children, despite principals up and down the country stating more money, not less is needed.
It was reported by the SUNDAY STAR-TIMES that in papers it had obtained the ministry hoped to underspend in the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme(ORRS)by $23.5 million between 2006 and 2010. ORRS is for the highest special needs - many of whom are in mainstream classes. Why would the ministry make such a strange prediction when everybody involved knows full well that many more funding dollars will be desperately needed in coming years?
It is hypocritical of the National Party Opposiion and a particular spokeswoman to criticise, shed crocodile tears and claim anger at officials who "are picking on the most vulnerable children in society to slash funding". She says most schools struggle for special needs funding and rely on dipping into general budgets , fundraisng or pleading with parents to top them up.
The National Party is directly responsible for the situation under the Education Ministry's Section 9; they dismantled the widesread system of special education schools and many units when they were last in power in the 1990's, and only allowed funding for special need students until they left primary school. Once in Intermediate School they had to rely on the limited funding these schools received and raised.One example of this was my grandson who had good special needs support at Stokes Valley School, but only a total of seven hours mainstream support at Avalon Intermediate. I was told this was quite usual, almost the norm at intermediate schools.
To get ORRS funding a child almost has to be at the stage where they can't walk, talk, feed themselves and aren't toilet trained. I support this claim through first hand involvement wth my granson's education from the age of eight to fifteen years.
I believe the present Government and its Education Minister tried to prioritise the average mainstream education at the expense of special needs education, and their policy has blown up in their faces. New Zealand parents and teachers won't tolerate this situaton any more. The Education Ministry will just have to find the money for special needs education from other sources.They will just have to forget about tryng to save money over the next few years.
The National Party's dubious role should not be forgotten in actually creating this volatile situation, and their hypocrisy in trying to make the Labour Party the villains of the peace should not be forgotten as we move closer to the next general elections. They really are a mean spirited bunch who should be alert to the possibiliies of their own children being victims of such an education system - wealth is no guarantee against childhood learning problems.
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