tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687643215117543088.post454069266907267538..comments2023-12-21T23:44:40.324+13:00Comments on Maui Street: How not to help your causeMorgan Godferyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16151402259122819244noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687643215117543088.post-59820226787525225582011-11-28T20:27:41.149+13:002011-11-28T20:27:41.149+13:00”I personally was saddened with the coverage of th...”I personally was saddened with the coverage of this event. The reality and what was reported were very different.” <br /><br />That’s the classic line to trot out when the portrayal of an event doesn’t suit your narrative. The media don’t, contrary to what conspiracy nuts say, pull things out of thin air. The behaviour of the Intermediate supporters must have resembled, or closely resembled, what was written. You point out that the Editor of the Beacon was chairing the debate. In terms of the story in question, the one which you and the parents dispute, the Editor (read Longley) would have approved the story. Editors must approve the content of each edition. This tells us one thing – Longley clearly thought the story was accurate. Would he really risk printing such an explosive story if it was incorrect? The ramifications of printing a dishonest story would be huge. Longley would lose his job, blacklist himself in the media and expose the Beacon to legal action. <br /><br />“Is it not peoples prerogative in a democratic society that may voice their views?”<br /><br />Democracy is also about respecting the rights of others. The right of the East Coast electorate to hold a candidates forum for East Coast issues – not Kawerau issues. There is no democratic imperative in that situation for your issues to be heard and addressed. There are other democratic means. You would know because you have utilised these means well (protest, lobbying etc). With the question your head boy posed what were you expecting in reply? You can ask that question of the Minister herself because, as I’m sure you know given you’re applying for judicial review, she must give reasons for her decision or the Court can order, for example, a review of the decision. The continued, and very public I should say, use of the head boy seems like nothing more than an attempt to guilt trip the Minister and garner soft support. <br /><br />Your point of Pita Sharples is interesting. It’s interesting that he chose to stay out of the issue, especially given the communities Maori makeup. <br /><br />You are stretching logic to breaking point in your final paragraph. Yes, I’m certain you have best interests of young people in the community at heart, but how did sharing those videos help any children in the town? Those videos helped paint a disturbing picture of the town. They helped fuel the condemnation that Kawerau is a benefit town, a bunch of loser. In terms of the kids in the town all those videos did was glorify and legitimise that sort of behaviour. They didn’t have a 360 degree perspective change, rather their warped notions of acceptable behaviour were reinforced seeing that behaviour, which hit close to home, given oxygen in front of the country. Lastly, I’m not calling you on not living in the town. That’s Todd McClay.Morgan Godferyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151402259122819244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687643215117543088.post-77099562350875611292011-11-28T19:51:25.474+13:002011-11-28T19:51:25.474+13:00Part 2:
Mr Longley contacted me the following Mon...Part 2:<br /><br />Mr Longley contacted me the following Monday to clarify what happened at the meeting for me. He did so of his own fruition and I was an interested listener. What he said was that it had been his intention in the final minutes of the meeting to commend the students of Kawerau for their behaviour throughout the meeting. He relayed to me that he was impressed with their attentiveness and respectfulness of others at the meeting. Mr Longley also said that he was surprised that Tina Porou had felt intimidated as in his view the Kawerau contingent were well behaved and organized. Had she taken the time to actually go into the venue she would have been afforded the same opportunity as all the other candidates. There was no intention from any of the Kawerau attendees to make anyone feel threatened nor detract from the East Coast constituents getting a fair go in meeting their candidates. <br /><br />The irony regarding Ms Porou's non-attendance is that Dr. Pita Sharples has during the past twelve months been asked to meet Kawerau Intermediate school community and Board of Trustees but has, other than a standard reply from a P.A, not responded. Given that he is was the Associate Minister of Education this was not well received.<br /><br />Finally had you taken the time to investigate you would have discovered that the Close Up show was born out of the disturbing deaths of 14 young people in Kawerau over a two year period. The story lacked balance and was overtly negative but there are times that hard questions need to be asked. My involvement on the show stemmed from knowledge of the large numbers of students who for a range of reasons are becoming disengaged with the education system. We are talking about 12, 13, 14 and 15 year olds who are removed from a formal education system and left to fend for themselves. It is not good enough that (approximately) 46 young people under the age of 16 no longer attend school. If I am to be vilified for speaking up for these kids then so be it. You are right, I don't live in Kawerau. I have however worked five days a week in the town for the past five years. I have spent much of time supporting not only students but their families with issues such as rental eviction to doctors appointments. To build a stronger community the culture of accepting violence, substance abuse and disfunction must be addressed. The videos I share I do so as I am not about turn away and pretend I did not see nor will I accept that young people in Kawerau should believe this is the norm. <br /><br />They deserve better and I will do all I can to support them while I work in Kawerau. <br /><br />Daryl Aim<br />Principal<br />Kawerau IntermediateDarylhttp://www.kis.school.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687643215117543088.post-48625628907468527242011-11-28T19:50:34.031+13:002011-11-28T19:50:34.031+13:00Dear Morgan,
Again I must call you to task with y...Dear Morgan,<br /><br />Again I must call you to task with your somewhat misinformed viewpoint. I am sure you are of the opinion that you don't believe everything you read in the papers.<br /><br />A contingent of parents, caregivers and community members did travel across to the meet the candidates meeting in Whakatane. This decision was made by the parents/caregivers at a community hui held at the intermediate. Those who travelled to this meeting were taking the only chance they have had in twelve months to raise their concerns personally with the Minister.<br /><br />The contingent that attended included students, parents, caregivers, kaumatua, and supporters for the retention of intermediate schooling. A bus was provided at no cost by Kawerau Coaches and was done so to assist those without the means to get to the meeting themselves.<br /><br />The MC for the event was the Mark Longley, Editor for the Whakatane Beacon. I agree that this was not ideal that Kawerau people were in your words 'gatecrashing' a Whakatane event, but the reality was that the parents believed this was their only chance to ask questions directly of the Minister. <br /><br />I personally was saddened with the coverage of this event. The reality and what was reported were very different. <br /><br />Mark Longley set the ground rules at the beginning of the meeting, which were two questions per topic. All political candidates in attendance were allowed to put forward their response to each of the questions. Very early in the meeting a Whakatane resident asked two questions regarding the closure of Kawerau Intermediate against the wishes of a large portion of the community. His questions were answered and the meeting continued. With approximately one third of those in attendance being from Kawerau there was obviously a desire to ask the Minister some questions. The Kawerau attendees sat respectfully from 7:00pm through to 9:00pm. At the very end of the meeting Annette Sykes asked the head boy of the intermediate to come forward and address the candidates with his question. He moved forward and asked the Minister a very simple question, 'why are you closing the intermediate when you have never even visited it?' This was a sincere question formed from the unique viewpoint only innocence can bring. Although not in attendance I have listened to the feedback from many who were, including professional educators. It would be fair to say that the Kawerau whanau were not happy about the way the head boy was spoken too and this raised the ire of those present. The Board Chairperson attempted to support Kunere but Mr Longley chose to shut the meeting down. It was not anarchy but rather an air of frustration from a large group at the meeting. Is it not peoples prerogative in a democratic society that may voice their views?Darylhttp://www.kis.school.nznoreply@blogger.com