Matahui School Fights for Survival After Charter Bid Declined

A small independent primary school near Katikati is battling to keep its doors open after its application to become a charter school was turned down by the Charter School Authorisation Board. Board member Craig McCullough said the school has managed to remain open for another year thanks to generous donations from parents and grandparents, while the community works toward longer-term solutions.

MatahuiSchool has 49 students and four teachers, with principal Mary Woods explaining that the school uses a holistic approach grounded in the theory of multiple intelligences. A large proportion of the roll — around 75 per cent — comprises neurodiverse learners, and Woods argued that existing government funding for such students is too restrictive to meet their needs effectively. "By having neurodiverse children at Matahui School, we are saving the Government money," she said.

The school also looked into becoming a state-integrated school, but that path proved equally difficult. Charter School Authorisation Board chairperson Justine Mahon explained that under current legislation, an independent school cannot simply convert to charter status — it would first need to close before a sponsor could apply to open a new charter school in its place. Mahon said the board had prioritised applications that were practical, cost-effective, and supported the long-term sustainability of the charter school system.

The Ministry of Education noted that state and state-integrated schools already receive inclusion funding to support neurodiverse learners and can access additional resources as needed, including learning support specialists and assistive technologies. Matahui, however, is funded through tuition fees, leaving its future uncertain.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).