Education Minister Hekia Parata and Labour leader Andrew Little have had a playground spat over the impending closure of one of Christchurch's schools.
The squabble arose as the Education Minister opened two new primary schools.
Rawhiti School is the culmination of a merger of three damaged eastern suburb's primaries into one super school.
Ms Parata thinks it's pretty exciting.
"You can see for yourselves that the community is very proud of what they've achieved," she says. "There's a lot of recognition of what they've had to go through to get to this time and place but they're facing forward and very excited."
But while cake was being cut and plaques unveiled in the east, a short drive across town there's little cause for celebration.
Redcliffs School has been off its main road site since the February 2011 earthquake. Late last year, Ms Parata proposed it would be closed for good.
"My view is there is uncertainty to be caused by disruption in the future and I don't think that's helpful for continuity of education," she says.
Mr Little was unimpressed with Ms Parata's reasoning.
"The only excuse the Minister is giving for closing is this airy fairy disruption, and it's not a real reason at all," he says.
Mr Little met with Redcliffs staff and the Board of Trustees this afternoon. He says the school should stay open.
"If she gets away with that decision, then that could apply to any school in New Zealand as a reason for closing it down, so this is an important fight to have," he says.
A final decision on the proposed closure is expected to be made in March.
Newshub.
