ONE NEWS CAPTIONS BY ANGELA ALICE AND JOHN LING. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT TVNZ ACCESS SERVICES 2013 DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF SEVEN SHARP, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. HEY. WELCOME TO SEVEN SHARP. HERE'S WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE TODAY. NORMALLY IT'S KIDS WHO CRY AT SCHOOL, BUT TODAY IT WAS THE TEACHERS. 19 SCHOOLS ARE SET TO CLOSE OR MERGE IN CHRISTCHURCH. AND MEANWHILE THE WOMAN WHO ANNOUNCED THE NEWS WAS SHOWCASING HER CHARACTERISTIC EMPATHY AND WARMTH (!) WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD BRIGHTER, MORE MODERN SCHOOLS IN BETTER LOCATIONS. YEP, SHE'S REALLY CHOKED UP WITH EMOTION THERE, ISN'T SHE (?) MM. NOW, THE PRIDE PARADE TOOK PLACE IN AUCKLAND OVER THE WEEKEND. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE PARADE, INCLUDING SOME MEMBERS OF THE DEFENCE FORCE. LOOK ` A VERBAL AND VISUAL SEGUE. THERE THEY ARE. YEAH, LISTEN, NZ NAVY ` I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DRESS UP LIKE THE VILLAGE PEOPLE, BUT IT'S THE GAY PRIDE PARADE! WOULD IT HAVE KILLED YOU TO SEW ON A FEW SEQUINS? WE'LL ASK THE DEFENCE FORCE MORE ABOUT WHY THEY CHOSE TO GET INVOLVED LATER ON IN THE SHOW. AND, FINALLY, IT'S MORE BOO-HOO FOR YAHOO, WITH TELECOM CALLING IN EXTRA STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE MASSIVE EMAIL HACK. 60,000 PASSWORDS WERE CHANGED, WITH SOME PEOPLE WAITING HOURS ON THE PHONE TO TELECOM YESTERDAY TRYING TO WORK OUT HOW TO BREAK INTO THEIR OWN ACCOUNT. YES, OUR COMMISERATIONS, GUYS. AND IF YOU'VE EVER SPENT AN HOUR ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR INTERNET PROVIDER, YOU'LL KNOW IT FEELS A BIT LIKE THIS. IT'S MONDAY NIGHT. WELCOME TO SEVEN SHARP. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL OPENED IN NZ? WELL, IT WAS 1997. THAT'S 16 YEARS AGO. THREE OF THE SEVEN SCHOOLS SET TO CLOSE IN CHRISTCHURCH ARE INTERMEDIATES, AND NOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INTERMEDIATES AROUND THE COUNTRY. BRODIE KANE'S BEEN LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE. THE WORST ANNOUNCEMENT A PRINCIPAL COULD BE FACED WITH. SOME SCHOOLS THAT WERE DOWN TO CLOSE AND TO MERGE ARE FINE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE OK. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS. THAT INTERIM DECISION IS THAT MANNING INTERMEDIATE WILL CLOSE. NO AMOUNT OF PR SPIN COULD SOFTEN THE AXE'S BLOW AT MANNING INTERMEDIATE. WE'VE HAD PROTESTS, SIGNS, ALL SORTS. SHE STILL WON'T LISTEN TO US. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SHE'S CLOSING SCHOOLS, BUT THEN SHE'S BUILDING MORE. YEAH. SHE'S` SHE'S WHAT, SORRY? SHE'S MEAN. SHE'S MEAN? REALLY MEAN. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 12 YEARS. I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, THIS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY, SO IT'S JUST GUTTING FOR IT TO HAPPEN. OF THE SEVEN SCHOOLS TO CLOSE IN THE CITY, THREE ARE INTERMEDIATES ` MANNING, LINWOOD AND BRANSTON. THAT'S MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE CITY'S 11 INTERMEDIATES. WE FEEL THAT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN TARGETED AS INTERMEDIATES, AS SPECIALIST EDUCATIONERS. I GIVES YOU A CHANCE, LIKE, FROM GOING FROM A SMALL STAGE TO A GIANT STAGE AND BEING MORE IN THE MIDDLE. IT'S KIND OF HARD GOING STRAIGHT FROM PRIMARY TO HIGH SCHOOL. YOU NEED AN INTERMEDIATE IN THE MIDDLE. EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA IS ADAMANT THIS DOESN'T SPELL THE END OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS IN NZ. I HAVE NO AGENDA TO GO AFTER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. WHAT MY AGENDA IS IS HOW DO WE RAISE ACHIEVEMENT FOR FIVE OUT OF FIVE KIDS NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL THEY GO TO. BUT SINCE 2000, 13 INTERMEDIATES HAVE BEEN CLOSED, KAWERAU BEING THE LATEST. NONE HAVE OPENED IN THAT TIME. IT TENDS TO BE INTERMEDIATES THAT ARE HIT DISPROPORTIONATELY. IF THE MINISTRY THINKS THERE'S AN ISSUE REGARDING ROLLS, THEY TARGET THE INTERMEDIATES. BUT THE MINISTER'S MAKING NO APOLOGIES FOR CLOSING THE INTERMEDIATES, OR ANY SCHOOLS, FOR THAT MATTER. SO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO APOLOGISE TO THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS > OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO CLOSE? > LOOK, CHANGE IS HARD, AND THESE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THREE OF THE SCHOOLS EARMARKED FOR CLOSURE IN CHRISTCHURCH ARE INTERMEDIATES. IT'S JUST HOW THE NUMBERS HAVE STACKED UP, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT. BUT SOME AREN'T CONVINCED. JOINING US FROM CHRISTCHURCH IS THE PRINCIPAL OF BRANSTON INTERMEDIATE, JENNIFER O'LEARY. Is this just about Christchurch, or is this a big push to bring an end to intermediate schools? I don't think all intermediate schools will close. The ones in higher socio economic areas will have a longer lifespan. But it's clear there is an agenda. Why are the two years that you teach kids for being focused on by the government? Because they are an easy target. The kids only come here for two years. They are expensive compared to primary schools and easier to get rid of. If they are expensive, can they really justify staying afloat? Every other country recognises the need the specific education for emerging adolescence. There is no firm policy here about emerging adolescent education. And Christchurch they have decided these kids can either go off to high school or stay in primary school. They would argue it is not the structure of the building, but the quality of the teaching. But we know that we can provide the types of programs specifically targeted to that age group Let's say this does go through and your kids are merged and their intermediate years are over. What will the effect on the? The effect on the community will be they will lose an option for education. They will shift the kids off to the nearest alternative they can find. You have a month to present your side of the story. Can you turn this around? I'm certainly confident that we can turn it around. The Minister already assured us that the school would not close before 2014. And I think that we have a good case to remain open, because of the demographics in our area, which have not been taken account of. Hornby is an emerging area with huge subdivisions. We'll be getting some good figures around a number of houses and developments, and we will use that information. Thanks, Jennifer. JOINING US FROM WELLINGTON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERMEDIATE AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ROSS TYSON. This could have nationwide implications, particularly for low decile schools? Firstly, my thoughts are with Christchurch school staff. If you look at the 12 schools across Christchurch, if you're closing three, it's 25%. What do suspect the government is doing with intermediate education? We have been assured that the government is not targeting intermediate education, but you do need to ask that question ` look at the popular Kawerau school that closed. If you do need to restructure and close schools, look at the campus that can accommodate primary, intermediate and secondary with the net community. You don't need to adhere to the pavement pedagogy of the separate institutions. Wire intermediate so important? Why can't secondary schools work with those kids? The emerging adolescents are quirky by nature and need specialised teachers to look after their needs. If they go to high school, I suspect they probably won't get that specialised education. There probably will be secondary school teachers to understand their needs. Is it the fact that you need them sat in one classroom for most of the day at that age? I don't doubt there are quality teachers throughout all systems. But the needs of children at this age are quite different and need to be addressed. Thanks, Ross Tyson. JESSE'S BEEN CHECKING OUT REACTION TO THE SCHOOL CLOSURES ONLINE. YES, WELL, PREDICTABLY, A BIG RESPONSE ON TWITTER DURING AND AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT. PHIL WHEELER SAID THE ATMOS IN THE ROOM WAS 'STUNNED AND AWKWARD', WHILE EMMA HART SAID HEKIA WAS 'HOMICIDALLY CONDESCENDING'. TONY MILNE TWEETED THAT NATIONAL WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN EARTHQUAKE TO CUT FUNDING TO SCHOOLS, WHILE LILITH GRACE HAD EVEN PLAINER LANGUAGE. SHE SAYS PARATA DID WHAT NO EARTHQUAKE COULD DO, AND THAT'S DESTROY COMMUNITIES. BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS CRITICAL. RICHARD D'ARTH SAID THAT, HEY, JUST BECAUSE A POLICY MAKES KIDS CRY, DOESN'T MAKE IT A BAD POLICY. AND JOHN KEY HELPED REMIND PEOPLE THAT IT WAS LABOUR THAT CLOSED 280 SCHOOLS WHILE TREVOR MALLARD WAS IN CHARGE. AND, BY THE WAY, NBR NOTED HEKIA'S WORD OF THE DAY TODAY. IT WAS 'INTERIM', AND WE FOUND IT 16 TIMES THROUGHOUT HER PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE CLOSURES. LOOK AT THAT. INTERIM, INTERIM, INTERIM. MAKES EVERYTHING SEEM QUITE FLEXIBLE AND OPEN-MINDED, DOESN'T IT? IT'S CALLED PR SPIN, AND THAT'S ONE THING HEKIA IS VERY VERY GOOD AT. WE'RE RUNNING A POLL TONIGHT. THE QUESTION: DOES NZ NEED INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS? JUST ANSWER YES OR NO. THE VARIOUS WAYS YOU CAN JOIN THE VOTE ARE ON YOUR SCREEN, AND WE'LL BRING YOU THE RESULTS NEAR THE END OF THE PROGRAMME. AFTER THE BREAK, IT WAS A FIRST FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE MARCHING IN THE PRIDE PARADE. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE PARTICIPANTS JOINING US IN THE STUDIO. IN SPITE OF ALL THE SEQUINS AND COLOUR AND BODY PAINT, ONE OF THE BEST SIGHTS AT THE PRIDE PARADE IN AUCKLAND ON SATURDAY WAS A GROUP OF WORKMATES WEARING THEIR NORMAL WORK CLOTHES. OUR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THE NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE GOT BY FAR THE BIGGEST CHEERS AS THEY MARCHED DOWN PONSONBY RD. WITH US ARE TWO OF THEM, SQUADRON LEADER STU PEARCE AND PETTY OFFICER NAVAL POLICEMAN BRADLEY HARRIS. STU, HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU SAW THE CROWD'S RESPONSE? It was overwhelming, to be honest. We hope through good reception, but we never expected that. That was really moving. Why do you think it is that they were so pleased to see you? It was something different. The military was alongside all the flamboyance and colour. The irony is that this parade you got a huge impression from just playing it fairly straight. I wasn't involved in the parade directly. From the outcome and the support we got, it was just exciting. It was a great day. Ultimately, Stu was the man behind the plan. It was his baby, so to speak. We got more more support and were able to attend public events. It was not just gay personnel who are marching? One of our young sailors e-mailed me a week before, expressing his concern. He brought four or five supporters along with him, who were all straight. I think it is great. Commitment and courage. Overwatch is an official way of supporting the gay and transgender community in the armed forces. We do a number of roles. Primarily we are there to provide support to our workers who are gay, lesbian, transgender. We also provide direction to our commanders. We are very fortunate that we have the complete support of the Chief of the defence force. He regards all of his people as the number one priority. We have heard horror stories in the US military about 'don't ask don't tell'. Has it ever been the case in NZ? Back in our history there have been some dark days for GLBT military personnel. But the fact that we were in this parade really emphasises the support we have received. How many are there? That is a difficult question, because it depends how many people identify. There are all sorts of statistics. We know that there are enough to warrant having a support group. Back next year? Hope so. A float next year. STAY WITH US. WELCOME BACK. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THE POLL WE'VE BEEN RUNNING. WE ASKED YOU IF NZ NEEDS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS. VERY CLOSE! THAT SURPRISES ME. PARTICULARLY GIVEN NZERS' RESISTANCE TO CHANGE YOU AND I BOTH WENT TO INTERMEDIATE YOU, ALI, DIDN'T. I WAS SCHOOLED IN AUSTRALIA. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR INTERMEDIATE WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE. FELT DISRUPTIVE TO ME. THERE HAVE BEEN LOADS OF COMMENTS COMING IN ON THE SCHOOL CLOSURES. NATHANIEL SAYS THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT AND KIDS WOULD BE OVERWHELMED GOING STRAIGHT TO HIGH SCHOOL. MATT SAYS INTERMEDIATES ARE SO DISRUPTIVE. YOU JUST GET USED TO THEM AND THEN YOU'RE GONE. IF YOU HAVE SCHOOLS GOING FROM 11 TO 17 YEARS OLD, THE SCHOOLS WANT RESULTS AND WILL FOCUS ON THAT UPPER TIER TEACHER QUALITY WILL BE PUT INTO THE AGES THAT WILL GET THE SCHOOLS THE BEST RESULTS. IT'S EVERY PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE ` A GANG BEING SET UP IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CARTERTON RIGHT NOW. YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF THIS GANG, BUT ITS MEMBERS COULD BE COMING TO A PAVEMENT NEAR YOU. JEHAN CASINADER WENT TO WAIRARAPA TO INVESTIGATE. DO YOU FEEL SAFE? RIGHT NOW, NOT PARTICULARLY. THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE. I MEAN, I'M SURE I CAN OUTRUN THEM. PRETTY SCARED TO WALK PAST THEM IF THEY'RE LIKE THAT. WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM IN THE DARK ALLEY. WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS? > I DUNNO. SMOKING DOPE. THIS IS THE TERRITORY OF THE CARTERTON SCOOTER GANG. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT A GANG LIKE THIS TAKING OVER YOUR TOWN? IT'S A GANG THAT'S GROWING. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT RECRUITING MORE MEMBERS? YES, DEFINITELY. YES, YES. WHAT SORT OF TROUBLE ARE YOU LOT CAUSING NOW? AND THEY'RE RUNNING RINGS AROUND THE AUTHORITIES. WOULD YOU TAKE ON YOUR GRANDMOTHER? NO I WOULDN'T. > NAH. DO YOU WATCH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW? LOVE IT. MM. AT 85, SHIRLEY ANDREWS IS THE OLDEST QUEEN PIN OF OUR NEWEST GANG. DO YOU NEED A LICENCE TO RIDE A SCOOTER? NO. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THE WARRANT OF FITNESS EVERY YEAR. SHIRLEY STOPPED DRIVING HER CAR LAST YEAR AFTER BEING CLOCKED HOONING AT 105 K'S AN HOUR. NOW SHE SPENDS MOST OF HER TIME IN THIS GANG PAD. ARE YOU ON DRUGS? WHAT OLD PERSON ISN'T? DESPITE TAKING 23 PILLS A DAY, SHIRLEY VENTURES OUT ON TO OUR ROADS WITH HER FOUR-WHEELED WEAPON. ENGINE REVS PEOPLE AREN'T FAZED BY YOU? NO, NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL. TRY TELLING THAT TO THE MAYOR. I HOPE YOU'RE NOT STILL SPEEDING AROUND THAT CORNER? AS AN MP, RON MARK CAMPAIGNED TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME. VIOLENT OFFENDING BY YOUNG PEOPLE HAS GONE UP 43%. NOW HE'S DEALING WITH THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM. THAT LADY WHO'S RIDING HER SCOOTER OUT ON THE COUNTRY ROADS, IS SHE ONE OF YOUR LOT? SHE'S GOING TO GET RUN OVER BY A SHEEP TRUCK ONE DAY. AT THE LOCAL PARK, THESE PATCHED MEMBERS GATHER. (YELLS) BUT THEY'VE GONE UNDER THE RADAR FOR MONTHS. POLICE WEREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THE GANG UNTIL OUR INVESTIGATION. JUDITH COLLINS, WHEN SHE WAS MINISTER OF POLICE, TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO SORT OUT THIS GANG PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. SHE HASN'T DONE A DAMN THING. WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IS SOME OF THESE GANG MEMBERS TALKING TO LOCAL YOUTHS. NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THEY'RE USING TACTICS LIKE THIS TO TRY AND RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS. I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY THESE PEOPLE. NOT AT ALL. SO THE HAT'S JUST FOR DECORATION. WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIT HARSH. BUT, NO, I AM SORT OF IN CHARGE. SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? EVERYTHING THEY TELL ME TO DO ABOUT IT. THAT EYE'S BLIND, AND THAT EYE CAN'T SEE VERY MUCH. THE GANG IS DEMANDING THAT THE COUNCIL FIXES THE PAVEMENTS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO MOVE AROUND. YOU GOTTA BE DIPLOMATIC ABOUT HOW YOU DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS. SOME LOCALS SAY THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO KEEP THE ELDERLY OFF THE STREETS. I'M NOT A BOY RACER. I'M NOT A BOY ANY MORE, EITHER. WELL, THAT'S DEBATABLE. RIGHT. ENGINE REVS, PUTTERS # HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. # YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THEM AND HOW TO SLOW DOWN AND HOW TO STOP WHEN PEOPLE DON'T SEE YOU. YELLING, CLATTERING POLICE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRING DOWN THE ROAD TOLL, AND LOOK YOU GO AND` I KNOW, I KNOW. SHIRLEY KNOWS SHE MAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR HER RISKY LIFESTYLE. YOUR COFFIN? YEAH. WELL, I DECIDED TO ORGANISE MY FUNERAL. I THINK MOST PEOPLE COME FOR A FREE FEED. EVERYONE WILL DIED WHEN THEY SEE MY HAND COME OUT AND WAVE TO THEM. I'VE GOT EVERYTHING WRONG WITH ME. I SHOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE ALIVE. I WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE BEFORE I WAS 60. I DON'T WANT TO DIE YET. I THINK I'VE GOT JOBS TO DO YET. SHIRLEY SAYS SHE SET UP THIS GANG TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT SCOOTERS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR SAFE USE. THERE'S GOOD IN EVERYONE. AND I FEEL THAT GANG MEMBERS, IT'S BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO BE TOGETHER. THEY WANT COMPANIONSHIP. I WISH THEY COULD ALL LEARN TO BE NICE. AND AS WITH ANY GANG, RECRUITMENT IS VITAL FOR SURVIVAL. YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE SCOOTER. RON MARK LOOKS LIKE FREDDIE FENDER THAT'S SEVEN SHARP FOR MONDAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING. SEE YOU TOMORROW. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND VIRGINIA PHILP.