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Fatal car crash on Kopuarahi School doorstep drives campaigning
10 Mar, 2021 05:31 PM
5 minutes to read
Chris Patel and Karma Vitasovich where debris was sent flying after a road accident outside the Kopuarahi School. Photo / Alison Smith
Chris Patel and Karma Vitasovich where debris was sent flying after a road accident outside the Kopuarahi School. Photo / Alison Smith
In both directions looking out from the playground of Kopuarahi School are reminders to the staff, students and families of the fragile line between life and death.
On two occasions the school community has lived through the trauma of car accidents - one fatal - on their doorstep.
A closed school is a headache for parents, children and teachers, yet planning appears to be scarce for up to 94 schools that could be affected by flooding as the tides rise. New Niwa models show Canterbury, Bay of Plenty and Waikato schools are the most likely to be hit by coastal flooding caused by up to 1 metre of sea level rise. Schools that could be in the flood risk zone after less than 50 centimetres of sea level rise include Napier Boys High, Kaiapoi High School and Opotiki College (see below for a full list). The rising tides could create flooding around school buildings and roads, affecting children s ability to get to and from classrooms. Seawater in pipes could cause toilets and sinks to back up, according to Niwa research. Despite this, the Ministry of Education had minimal adaptation plans in place.
KidsCan/Supplied
Schools are preparing for the start of term to be tougher than ever. “It’s a genuine struggle,” Jan Love, a social worker at Mana College in Porirua, said. It’s rare for students to bring lunch with them – if they do, it’s a bag of chips. The food the school gets from KidsCan is a huge help, she said. “You always really feel it when you see a kid stuffing it in their pocket. “You know the difference between someone being greedy and someone being genuine – you feel it and it’s hard.” The biggest challenge at the start of the year is getting students back to class. There is always a handful who get stuck in Auckland or Rotorua over the holidays, she said.