October 03, 2016
East Coast community buys back school for $1
East Coast community buys back school for $1
The people of Waipiro Bay have lost their school, but they now have a chance to build a new community asset.
The school closed 2013 because there were only four pupils, and since then locals have been maintaining the building and mowing the lawns.
Kaumatua Edward Blane says with the assistance of Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri they formed Waipiro Bay Whanau Charitable Trust representing descendants of the original landowners and negotiated its return.
The property will be handed over to the trust in Ruatoria today for the sum of $1.
Mr Blane says there’s no shortage of ideas for the facility, including taekwando classes and using the grounds for summer bus camping.
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