Prime Minister John Key was in Nelson last Friday, officially opening the Nelson Young Parents’ School and speaking to members of Nelson Grey Power.
The PM fulfilled his promise to open the young parents’ unit, which is based at Auckland Point School, after the planned opening in February was cancelled when the Prime Minister couldn’t fly out of Wellington due to fog.
He said it was important for the government to support programmes like it.
“Studies have shown us that young women who have children and are left on their own are quite vulnerable, unless we intervene,” he told those at the opening. “Those studies also show that these young women do extremely well once they get support.”
The Nelson Young Parents’ School was founded several years ago with huge support from the Nelson branch of Soroptimist International.
Last year it moved to Auckland Point School and came under the governance of Nelson College for Girls. Auckland Point School is now home to a kindergarten, a primary school and the teen parent school.
Nelson College for Girls principal Cathy Ewing says the school was proud to be involved. “This is about ensuring a better future for themselves and their children,” she said of the unit’s 13 students.
Head teacher of the school, Philippa Trewavas, says three former students are currently studying tertiary education. “On a daily basis these mums impress me, surprise me.”
Student mum Marise Bainbridge spoke with the Prime Minister as he held her son Reuben.
She says she was 17 when she started at the school and she enrolled because it was her last chance to finish her high school education.
She says she wants to go on to study accounting. “We spoke about the benefits and how this helps us and the stats around young mums and how vulnerable they are. It was good to speak with him.”
On Friday afternoon the Prime Minister spoke to Grey Power members at the Nelson Suburban Club, where he outlined some of his party’s policies heading into the general election this year.
