Fight to keep school open: Hikoi heads to capital | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Kawerau Intermediate School supporters hope to convince Education Minister Anne Tolley to keep the school open.

Seven buses carrying 250 people left Kawerau yesterday morning bound for the steps of Parliament. Staff, parents, students and supporters of Kawerau Intermediate departed the eastern Bay of Plenty town armed with placards urging Mrs Tolley to keep the Year 7 and 8 school. Intermediate Board of Trustees chairperson Trina Hayes described the mood of the hikoi as positive.

"Everyone is in a good mood and all are hoping they can encourage Mrs Tolley to change her mind," Mrs Hayes said.

The closure is part of a restructure of the six existing schools that, under Government's preferred option, will see three primary schools merge, one change to include intermediate-aged students, the intermediate close and the college remain as it does now. The option has angered the community who are prepared to fight for the intermediate.

Mrs Hayes' daughter Danielle Hayes, of New Zealand's Next Top Model fame, was to join the hikoi but had to attend a photo shoot in Auckland.