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Wesley College’s hostels are to remain open and operating as normal, despite a Ministry of Education directive ordering their closure by today, November 7.
In a statement today, Wesley College Trust Board chair Jan Tasker, told the Franklin Times the hostels are continuing to operate as usual.
“No, they [the students] are staying and the hostels are open and operating as normal.
“We have increased staff-to-student ratios and continue to meet all care and safety requirements,” she said.
Tasker says there will be “one staff member for every 15 students overnight and one staff member for every 10 students during the day.”
There will also be a minimum of two staff on duty in each dormitory at all times, regardless of student numbers.
The Board confirmed it has lodged an appeal with the Auckland District Court challenging the Ministry’s suspension notice, which sought to close some of the hostels at the Paerata school by Friday, November 7.
Tasker says lodging the appeal “has simply granted what is called a ‘stay’ so that the hostels can remain operating in the meantime before a case is heard or there is a negotiation.”
The Ministry’s notice, issued on October 31, had allowed only limited exemptions – permitting NCEA students to remain until their final assessments were completed and international students until the end of term.
The Board says its legal challenge means the hostels will continue to operate while the matter is before the court.
“The timing and nature of the directive have placed significant pressure on students, families, and staff,” Tasker said.
“The Board believes the Ministry’s approach has been unnecessarily disruptive, particularly for Year 9 and 10 students engaged in exams and end-of-year projects.”
Over the past year, the Trust Board says it has strengthened hostel operations and oversight, with one staff member for every 15 students overnight, one for every 10 during the day, and at least two staff on duty in each dormitory at all times.
“The Board remains focused on ensuring the safety, stability, and continuity of care for all Wesley College students boarding in the hostels,” Tasker said.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed the Wesley College Trust Board must provide documentation to the Licensing Authority by 30 November 2026 to demonstrate it has made the necessary changes to regain its hostel licence.
The Ministry says the required evidence must show improvements to student safety, supervision, and governance, following serious concerns about the hostel environment which led to the licence being suspended.
The school plans to close the hostels at the end of term four as originally outlined.
Background
A special Education Review Office report in June 2023 found the Wesley College Trust Board had not done enough to ensure the safety of students living in its hostels. While the facilities met minimum licensing requirements, ERO said boarders “were not yet provided with a safe physical and emotional environment that supports their learning.”
Concerns included inadequate night-time supervision, poor record-keeping, weak complaints management and a lack of staff training in bullying and abuse awareness.
Although some facility upgrades and new programmes were introduced in early 2023, ERO found the pace of change too slow and recommended that the Trust Board strengthen health and safety systems, professional development, and policy oversight to prevent harmful practices and improve the boarding experience.
In March 2025, the ERO acknowledged that Wesley College had made progress in improving hostel culture, systems and staffing since the earlier review. Boarders reported a more positive climate and clearer behaviour expectations. A new Head of Boarding had been appointed, and overnight supervision strengthened through alarm systems, CCTV and regular in-person checks. Training in health and safety and child protection was also introduced.
However, ERO warned that the pace of governance reform remained too slow and that the Trust Board still lacked a strategic plan to sustain improvements. It found policy implementation inconsistent across boarding houses and identified non-compliance with complaints and licence-display requirements. ERO recommended stronger governance, consistent systems and building upgrades to ensure boarders’ physical and emotional safety.
The ERO has not yet released its September 2025 report, which the Ministry of Education has referred to in its licence-suspension decision.
