By Helen Vaughn
Parents of an Auckland kindergarten are horrified at plans by the Ministry of Education to bulldoze a kindergarten to make way for a car park.
The kindy in Point Chevalier has been told it has to close, because the land is needed for parking for a neighbouring school, and 250 preschoolers would be affected by the closure
But their parents plan to fight it all the way.
Campbell Live asked anyone who wanted to come along to show support for their beloved kindergarten - and they did.
Kids, parents, teachers, even past pupils turned out to share their message - and their fears.
The kindy is on a small piece of leased land at the back of Point Chevalier Primary School. It has lots of space for a playground, a sandpit, trees to climb and even a boat
Kids and their parents thought their future at the kindy was secure until last Friday afternoon, a letter was circulated to all parents from the Auckland Kindergarten Association
"Our licence to occupy the land at the front of the school is being terminated," it reads.
It’s taken the community completely by surprise. Many of these parents came to live here because they can walk their kids to preschool.
“We're a community, we walk and encourage biking and scootering,” parent Shona Gundy said.
“Point Chev's really unique because we've got the beach and lots of park areas and here's our school - going to have a whole lot of concrete. It's just crazy,” parent Jackie O'Connor said
But its the very the popularity of this suburb may have led to the kindy's downfall
Point Chev School is expanding and building more classrooms, and the kindergarten is on Ministry of Education land that's now needed by the school. The plan is to bulldoze the kindy to make way for new car parks to service the new classrooms.
The Auckland kindergarten association says it was informed only weeks ago.
Ninety children come to the morning and afternoon sessions at the kindy, and there are 160 on the waiting list. That's 250 families that would be affected if it closes.
There are two other preschools in the area, but both are private, and have nine month waiting lists.
Shona Grundy is a working mum with two daughters, aged seven and nearly four. Without the centre for her youngest - she would be stuck.
A statement from the Minister of Education today said she's ordered her ministry to take a more considered look at this issue - and she's hoping to also meet with the Auckland mayor Len Brown to try and resolve it.
A statement from the ministry itself says it is looking at alternative arrangements for the kindergarten and the children, but those arrangements need to meet the approval of this now increasingly motivated band of Point Chev parents. They're not going to take it quietly
Their Facebook campaign now has 700 followers, and they've organised a public meeting for next Tuesday.
Watch the video for more.