Schools In Christchurch

Winner will take Tua to visit quake-hit Christchurch areas

A Christchurch man has spent $25,000 to secure David Tua as a household handyman – but he intends to lend the heavyweight out to a worthier cause.

The auction was set up by the Breast Cancer Research Trust, and the whole $25,000 will go to the not-for-profit organisation.

The Trade Me user who made the knock-out bid is listed as a man named Peter from Christchurch.

Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford yesterday confirmed the bid was genuine.

"Our hard-working customer service guys have spoken to that person and they've got a high level of comfort that it's legitimate," he said.

The bidder himself, who goes by the username Parodi, posted on the question section of the auction to confirm his intentions are genuine.

"This is a very worthy charity to support and if I was successful here; I am keen to fly David to Christchurch to tour some schools and meet children in some of the worst hit areas here! It will be be [sic] great fun and a good day!" he wrote.

The auction gives a few tips on what the winner could use Tua's services for, including making breakfast and helping with the shopping.

TradeMe users seemed to think Parodi's suggestion of taking him on a tour of quake-stricken homes would be a better use of the boxer's time, and praised Parodi for helping out two good causes.

Educational Transformation in Christchurch | Alpine – Advanced ...

David Duffy, Systems Manager, Think Beyond Ltd

In the late 1990’s the then Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, took a step towards moving schools into the 21st century by allowing Discovery One School to open in Christchurch. It was, for a conservative Ministry, a bold step and it took many people beyond their comfort zone. Twelve years on the school is well established and the school’s community is enjoying and benefiting from the educational opportunities available in the wider learning environment.

The Canterbury Earthquakes have presented another opportunity for bold leadership in education.

The rebuilding of Christchurch has focused on the redevelopment of the central business district, the restoration of the infrastructure serving the city and the relocation and welfare of the people whose homes have been ruined in the series of earthquakes.

The Ministry of Education, school boards, principals and their teaching staff have been focusing on the restoration of ‘business as usual’ in the education sector. There have been huge demands placed on the education system at all levels and the fact that schools are functioning so well should be acknowledged and the efforts of all concerned applauded.

However, beyond the need to have schools functioning again is the growing concern for the long term outlook for education for Christchurch, particularly in the eastern suburbs.

Schools have suffered in many ways; their communities have been severely dislocated and, in some cases, dismantled and are disappearing; their buildings and campus sites have been badly affected by liquefaction and structural damage; their governing and managing bodies have been stretched to the limit coping with the need to have schools functioning again while coping with their own personal circumstances.

The projected roll outlook for Christchurch indicates that some schools may no longer be economic units and may face closure. An assessment of the pre-earthquake situation reveals that there has always been a number of schools at different levels struggling in Christchurch for a variety of reasons. Throw in the extra dimensions of new housing developments, the relocation of a number of families, and importantly, the growing acknowledgement of the demands of 21st century learning and information technology developments, and there emerges a platform for reassessment about how we do things in Christchurch.

A simple ‘worst-case’ scenario would be for the Ministry to simply close some schools and amalgamate others. Some schools would disappear and some would get bigger but effectively, nothing would have changed and the opportunity for real progress would have been lost.

Schools in Christchurch, Christchurch Adventist School, St. Andrew's College, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Van Asch College

Secondary Schools in Christchurch, Christ's College, Canterbury, History of Burnside High School, St Thomas of Canterbury College

Roman Catholic Schools in Christchurch, Roman Catholic Secondary Schools in Christchurch, St Bede's College, Christchurch

Roman Catholic Secondary Schools in Christchurch, St Bede's College, Christchurch, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Catholic Cathedral College

House of Commons papers