NZ's Next Top Model Danielle Hayes joins Tame Iti to save school | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

One has a canvas of ta moko, while the other sports a mass of freckles - but both are lending their famous faces to the "Keep Kawerau Intermediate Open" hikoi.

Tuhoe activist Tame Iti and New Zealand's Next Top Model Danielle Hayes will be boarding one of six buses heading to Parliament on Monday as supporters of the school fight to keep the doors open after a Ministry of Education decision to close them at the end of the year.

Ms Hayes is a former student and staunch supporter of Kawerau Intermediate. Her mother Trina is the chairwoman of the school's Board of Trustees.

Intermediate principal Daryl Aim says the hikoi will arrive on the steps of Parliament at 9.30am.

"We have received confirmation Minister of Education Anne Tolley, will meet with myself and four delegates at 11.30am on Tuesday," Mr Aim said.

"At this stage, Ms Tolley has not said whether she will meet the hikoi party on the steps, however Kelvin Davis and Sue Maloney from the Labour Party have confirmed they will be there."

Mr Aim says the hikoi has been planned to highlight the Kawerau community's anger they have not been listened to by the ministry.

"Prior to Mrs Tolley's decision, the community of Kawerau had been through two rounds of consultation that began late in 2010. The community was united in their voice to retain three levels of education in the town: primary, intermediate and secondary."

Mr Aim said taking away the intermediate also takes away the ability for students to take part in the Poverty Bay/Bay of Plenty Inter-Intermediate Sports Competition which, every year, holds events exclusive to intermediate students: surfing, duathlon, swimming, touch rugby, open water swimming, orienteering, golf, amazing race, indoor bowls, squash, mountain biking, ultimate Frisbee, rock wall climbing, netball, hockey, rugby, cross country, basketball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, triathlon, cycling, beach challenge and softball.

"It also removes students' opportunities to undertake technology education every week for the course of the year."

Kawerau Intermediate was a decile 1B school doing amazing things, he said.

"The Board of Trustees subsidises all uniforms, stationery, sports and cultural trips. The school runs breakfast and fruit-in-school programmes. The school delivers a safe, supportive environment where kids are allowed to flourish both academically and socially prior to moving into a decile 1 college.

"This transition is too important for a kid's growth to be closed for the sake of it."