Risingholm: Not a priority?

[Editor: To help get the importance of this message across, Marijike Fordyce from Risingholme was involved in delivering a petition to Parliament today of over 53,000 people!]

Tucked away in the heart of Opawa, in a magnificent park sized garden, is a wonderful Community Centre called Risingholme.  It was built in 1864 by William and Mary Reeves, parents of politician William Pember Reeves.  In 1943, after several private owners, it was purchased and presented to the City of Christchurch by J.R. McKenzie for the “health, amusement and instruction of the public.”

The following year, a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Dr H.E. Hansen, established its first activities – a nursery play centre, a room for the Plunket Society, drama, play reading and study/discussion groups. Sixty five years later, this amazing centre is under direct attack – from none other than the Minister of Education, Anne Tolley.

Hidden in this year’s budget, was an 80% cut to the Adult and Community Education Fund.  The remaining 20% will be targeted at a small range of subjects only – Literacy and Numeracy, New Zealand Sign Language and English for speakers of other languages.  These courses are needed, of course, but so are the many others which are taught up and down the country in centres like Risingholme, and at night classes in our schools.

When challenged about this at a recent public meeting, National MP Nicky Wagner told the frustrated audience that there is a recession, and hard choices had to be made about the Budget. In the same Budget, an additional $35 million over 4 years was found for private schools. It’s about choices.  It’s about priorities.  This is the wrong choice and the wrong priority.