Aranui Community Leadership Group appointed

  • Hekia Parata
Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata says nine people have been appointed to the Aranui Community Leadership Group (ACLG), established to lead community consultation on the year 1-13 Aranui campus announced last month.

“Members were selected following registrations of interest received from the Aranui community. The members of the group were chosen because of their experience and commitment to the community,” says Ms Parata. 

“They all have strong connections to Aranui. Some live or work in the community at the moment while others were raised there and are really keen to give something back.

“They have a variety of skills and are from a range of different backgrounds including teaching and education, health care, community development and support work, voluntary work, and the business sector.

Ms Parata says from now until December the ACLG will lead consultation with the Aranui community on the organisation of the campus, schooling provision, and the facilities and services the campus will provide for the community.

“With support from the Ministry, the ACLG will help determine what the community wants the campus to offer Aranui children and students, the vision for the campus, and what services and facilities the community would like included to meet their needs and aspirations.

Ms Parata says it will also identify the way the campus should be organised – for example a year 1-13 school or a junior / middle /senior model, or an alternative. In addition, it will bring together the community’s views on schooling provision, including bilingual, kura and special education, tertiary or business subjects, adult learning, social and support services, and community use.

The ACLG will:

  • lead the consultation and engagement on the year 1-13 campus with the Aranui community
  • ensure consultation and engagement is effective and takes account of the cultural diversity within the Aranui community
  • be responsible for communication with the community about the campus
  • work closely with the four closing Aranui schools and their governance during consultation, and until they close in 2017
  • work closely with the campus Establishment Board of Trustees (EBoT) until the new campus opens in 2017.

“Once again, I want to thank communities in Aranui and New Brighton for their involvement in this process. They have put enormous work into their submissions and their feedback has been invaluable throughout this past 12 months of extensive consultation.”

ACLG members and their backgrounds:

  • Lynmaree Ariki – Former teacher – Aranui School and Wainoni School, former Board of Trustees member – Aranui High School, former community support worker in mental health, Pasifika and church groups
  • Vanessa Burrell – Parent, Board of Trustees member – Aranui School, early childhood education teacher, experienced secondary teacher, associate tertiary teacher
  • Andy Doherty – CEO Southern Hospitality, Director, Board of Trustees experience, parent, grew up in Aranui
  • Cheryl Doig – Former Principal, consultant, leadership futurist, grew up in Aranui 
  • Rachael Fonotia – Manager ACTIS, sports manager, youth cultural development, CERA community forum member
  • Tania Kaa – Parent, former Board of Trustees - Aranui School, health care worker – Aranui High School, past student  
  • Michelle McConnell – Parent, volunteer, youth work experience
  • Haneta Pierce – Team Leader/Kaiwhakahaere Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch City Council, Chair Board of Trustees - Aranui High School,  Māori Womens Welfare league
  • Mark Scown – Principal, education leadership, executive member Project Early, Avondale community representative.

The group have elected Haneta Pierce as the chairperson.  Both Aranui High School and the Aranui Library have made a room available for the group to use as a meeting space.

Registrations for the group opened on 12 September and closed on 27 September, 20 were received.