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Associate Finance Minister James Shaw says he warned the couple behind the controversial Taranaki Green School and New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom to stay away from seeking government funding, but they went ahead anyway.
The revelation came during a whirlwind Tuesday in which Shaw publicly apologized for his decision to invest $ 11.7 million in the school, National Party leader Judith Collins called on the government to cut funding and Taranaki principals in They mass sent bills to the school ministers. millions to whom they believe their schools are entitled.
During a press conference at noon, Shaw, co-leader of the Green Party, said that when Neil Holdom introduced him to Rachel and Mike Perrett, who started the Green School, he warned them not to seek money from the Crown.
“Ironically, one of the things I said to them was, ‘Are you sure you want to come to the Crown for money because often government money is more troublesome than it’s worth?’
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“But at that time they were clear that the project would not continue and the mayor was very interested in continuing it.”
Green School CEO Chris Edwards was not available to confirm whether a discussion had taken place between the school and Shaw before the “out of the box” funding application was submitted.
Andy Jackson / Stuff
Rachel and Michael Perrett are the couple who started Green School and Shaw says he warned them that government money is more troublesome than it is worth.
Holdom, who also wrote a letter of support to the Perretts as part of their application to the Crown, was contacted for comment but said he had nothing to add.
Shaw said it was Holdom who first told him about the Green School.
Shaw saw it as an opportunity to employ hundreds of people on a green building project in the part of the country most affected by his government’s decision to switch to clean energy sources.
“These are the reasons why the Green School was supported.”
During the press conference, Shaw called the financing decision an “error in judgment” and said that the best resolution in his opinion would be for the money to be converted into a loan rather than a grant.
However, that was a decision to be made by Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Green School, he added.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Green Party co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson held an apology press conference in Parliament on Tuesday to address the $ 11.7 million funding for the Green School in New Plymouth.
Shaw said that the Green School had approached the government to find a solution, but that he would stay out of any negotiations because it would be inappropriate for a minister to intervene.
But in an emailed statement, Green School CEO Chris Edwards said they had not applied for a full grant and had not yet received any terms or spoken to CIP.
Edwards also said that Green School was proud to be recognized by Crown Infrastructure Partners as one of the projects that would make a significant contribution to the Taranaki region.
ANDY JACKSON / Stuff
Marfell Community School Acting Principal Kealy Warren says she was impressed by Shaw’s apology, but is still generally upset by the situation.
At the press conference, Shaw also spoke directly to the people of Taranaki.
“I apologize to the Taranaki schools who rightly want the best for their children.
“I want everyone to know that I have listened to their concerns.”
Kealy Warren, the acting principal of Marfell Community School, who was one of the most critical of the funding decision, said she was impressed that Shaw had taken responsibility.
“I thought your suggestion to turn everything into a loan was probably a good solution.
“I think he is doing what he can. I felt [he was] genuine and not just political. “
However, Warren was still angry about the situation and said the funding should not be approved.
A group of Taranaki principals have followed Warren’s lead after she billed the government $ 26.9 million to get equal treatment for her students.
“Everyone who submits the invoices should highlight the ridiculousness of the funding given to the Green School and our lack of it,” Warren said.
“We would like to meet with people in power and be heard.”
By Tuesday afternoon, 24 principals had submitted invoices, all of which included an administration fee, and requested that payment be made to the school office in person.
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Taranaki High School Principals Association director Martin Chamberlain still wants a funding retraction.
Taranaki High School Principals Association Principal Martin Chamberlain said he took Shaw at his word and called the apology admirable.
“But it is a retraction that we want.”
Although Shaw has said it would be difficult to get out of the deal, Chamberlain said he found it hard to believe it couldn’t be reversed.
He said that the most important problem was that the funding had not passed through the hands of the ministers of education and finance.
“It seems surprising that a minor party is allowed to advance a payment” that was not in line with the policies of both that minor party and the main coalition partner, he said.
