Protesters march against funding cuts

COLIN SMITH/ The Nelson Mail

COLOURFUL REMINDER: Nelson MP Nick Smith receives a mural from protesters, who marched to the Nelson Market on Saturday to protest against proposed cuts to Adult Community Education.

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Fifty community education enthusiasts marched through the rain to Nelson MP Nick Smith's caravan on Saturday to hand him a mural symbolising deep cuts in government funding for adult education.

The protesters carried balloons and placards as they made their way from the Countdown supermarket car park to Dr Smith's caravan at the Nelson Market.

The group, made up of tutors, students and their families, called out messages such as "they say cut back, we say fight back".

A mural painted by Pammie Moonlight's art students was handed to Dr Smith by the group.

Ms Moonlight, who taught the "fun, funky" night classes at Nayland College, said the words written on the bright mural, such as "hope", "creativity" and "friendship", were representative of community education.

The march was in response to the Government's announcement it will cut money for Adult Community Education programmes, offered through secondary schools, from $16 million to about $3m from January.

Dr Smith acknowledged the efforts the group made to express their view and said he had received many letters on the issue. He was not sure where he would hang the mural because he would "feel guilty about it".

After being prompted to express his view on the issue, Dr Smith said it was not the end of night classes and all sorts of adult education went on in New Zealand without government funding.

Mapua man Mike Friend said if the Government did not fund community education, some people would be left "disenfranchised".

March organiser and Nayland College Adult Community Education co-ordinator Kathryn Sclater said the march was supposed to be a "small visual" representation but was much bigger than she expected.

Ms Sclater said students and tutors were determined to keep night classes going, but recognised it would now have to be on a completely different basis. "There is a lot of goodwill in adult education and we are looking at creative ways to continue to offer educational opportunities to adults.

"The Government has elected to support just one sector, but with community and business support we aim to keep offering opportunities for people to be lifelong learners, to build their confidence and to strengthen our communities."

The marchers also gave away 100 balloons, which symbolised the century that night classes had been held in New Zealand.

Nelson woman Melanie Savill and her 15-year-old daughter Kimberley participated in the march.

Mrs Savill took Maori-language night classes with her husband when they first arrived in Nelson from the United Kingdom in January. She was just about to finish a series of ukulele classes and said without them she would have not made friends so quickly.

- © Fairfax NZ News