|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Wesley College in Paerata near Pukekohe has announced it will close its student hostels at the end of Term 4, 2025, following ongoing concerns about safety, supervision, and hostel culture.
The Wesley College Trust Board confirmed the decision in a statement issued by Chairperson Jan Tasker on October 20. She said while progress had been made in improving safeguarding and culture, deeper structural change was needed.
“This has not been an easy decision. We know the hostels are at the heart of our College community and provide a home for nearly half of our students. However, while progress has been made in improving safeguarding, supervision, and culture, deeper change is needed,” Tasker said.
Principal Brian Evans told the Franklin Times the school has five hostels and 160 boarders.
“Approximately 75-80 per cent of the boarders are reasonably local or from the wider Auckland region,” he said.
“We have plans underway to accommodate some students in homestays and we are looking at Auckland bus routes that we would operate in order to transport students safely to and from school.
“We are also set to begin renovations to two of our hostels in the new year which will bring them up to a state-of-the-art standard. We look forward to sharing those renovation plans with you in due course,” Evans said.
The decision marks the second time in three years that Wesley College’s hostels have been closed.
Do you know more? Email: Reporter@franklintimes in the strictest confidence.
The facilities were previously shut in 2022 following an internal review into serious concerns about student safety, supervision, and culture. At that time, the school implemented reforms aimed at strengthening safeguarding and accountability within its boarding operations.
‘Full review’ ahead
Tasker said the hostels will close for “a period sufficient to ensure meaningful and lasting improvements are achieved.”
During that time, the Board plans to conduct a full review of hostel culture, staffing, and student care, upgrade facilities and security, and strengthen safeguarding systems.
Tasker said the timing of the closure was deliberate to avoid disrupting students during NCEA exams.
“An immediate closure would cause significant upheaval and harm to students’ learning and wellbeing, which we are determined to avoid,” she said.
The board is also working with the Methodist Church to ensure hostel operations fully reflect the school’s Wesleyan values of faith, service, respect, and responsibility.
Families will be offered support throughout the transition, including help to find accommodation or transport options for 2026.
Counselling and pastoral care will remain available, and regular hui will be held to discuss arrangements.
“The hostels will reopen only when we can guarantee the highest standards of safety, care, and student wellbeing. This decision is about taking ownership, upholding the values of our school, and protecting the reputation of Wesley College for future generations,” Tasker said.
