Whanganui Collegiate owner still working on fixing illegal hockey turf lease

Whanganui Collegiate's owner is considering the best option for replacing a lease that breaches education legislation.

The school has been paying the Whanganui Collegiate School Foundation for use of a hockey turf, even though integrated schools are not allowed to enter lease arrangements - only their owners are.

The Ministry of Education contacted the school at the start of March about the arrangement and told RNZ the matter had not yet been finalised.

Whanganui Collegiate acting headmaster, Tash Bullock, said the school had been working with its owner - the Whanganui College Board - the ministry and the owner of the hockey turf.

"The work so far has focused on clarifying options which would be consistent with the school's integration agreement and the applicable regulations in Schedule 6 of the Education and Training Act. This work has aimed to clarify some options for the proprietors and hockey turf owner to choose from," she said.

"The matter is currently with the proprietor to consider. All parties are confident of an appropriate and timely resolution."

RNZ understands the school was paying $41,000 plus GST a year for use of the turf.

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