WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RENAMED MANGAKOTUKUTUKU COLLEGE TODAY?

Lee (Lianne) from Glenview

There was a serious, apparently gang related, fight that took place on the campus of the renamed - from Melville High and Melville Middle to Mangakotukutuku College - state school at around 11.30 a.m. today. No mention of this - still (at 8.30 p.m. on the same day as the incident) - on the school website. And the Waikato Times also only published their story late this afternoon. www.waikatotimes.co.nz... Nothing published in Stuff or NZ Herald.

Crucially, the new Principal, Dr Thilo Govender, sent an e-mail to parents and caregivers at 2:56 p.m. Too little too late is all I am going to say about this communication for now.

Three students we know were traumatised by what they heard and saw. The Waikato Times used the words "brawl" and "disorder" to describe, and I believe intentionally downplay, what happened. It was reported that Dr Govender "declined to speak to The Waikato Times". A lack of honesty, openness and transparency is never helpful and I know I am not alone in saying that parents and caregivers expect and deserve better. Certainly students, parents and caregivers want an full and frank explanation of what happened, what the school's policy and procedures are i.r.o. traumatic incidents like this was, and, importantly what has been done to prevent a recurrence. Also does this school have a Traumatic Incident Team and if not then why not?

I have heard from a reliable source that a Police officer told a parent who was waiting in the carpark for their child (that had called them from the school office crying and asking to be fetched from the school) that a student had been stabbed. The Police officer mentioned a gun being involved too. And as far as the claim that a person had been arrested for assaulting Police, the aforementioned parent was also told by the same aforementioned Police officer that a parent had been arrested for trying to gain access to the school grounds as he wanted to take his child home, was denied entry and got lippy and boisterous as a result.

The Ministry of Education knows that the now ex-Melville High School was a volatile and dangerous environment, and it in fact funded 2 security guards for the last 5 months of 2023 because the then Principal, Mr Clive Hamill, considered it so unsafe. Now we have a repeat of the same, but believed to be worse, dangerous behaviour under new school management! No guessing what message this sends to students, parents and caregivers? Again, students, parents and caregivers want to know what is being done by the Ministry of Education to prevent a recurrence of today's incident.

Many students were distressed by what happened and this was made worse because they could not call their parents as their mobile phones were locked away and not able to be used. Students not being able to reach out to loved ones and get the support, comfort and assurance of parents and caregivers during stressful incidents like this is not acceptable. They also have the right to expect a safe and secure learning environment and the fact that the "new" school is repeating the history of the "old" school troubles me greatly.

Crucially, the right to be told immediately when something goes wrong at your child's school is being ignored by Mangakotukutuku School, and I am really angry that messages were posted on the school's FACEBOOK PAGE which hardly any parent looks at. Notably as well, soon after we heard what had happened - through another parent calling us - I made a call to the school but no one answered. Not even an answering machine where parents and caregivers can record messages!!!