Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 17 May 2023 NCE 1993 SI
Page 7
Brooke sails to success
D
UT
A
Market saves money
O LIMITE
Page 23
‘Absolutely heartbroken’: Preschools shut their doors KATE RUSSELL Two long-standing early childhood centres in Tāhunanui have joined almost 70 centres around the country who have been forced to shut their doors due to struggling to pay new pay parity
rates for their teachers. Paula’s Preschool and Paula’s Tiny Tots on Parkers Rd closed on Friday 12 May following an email being sent to parents and teachers on Sunday 7 May. Pay parity is a scheme to help close the pay gap between teach-
ers in early learning and care centres and their colleagues in kindergartens. Although centres receive more government funding for signing up to pay parity, the money is not enough to cover the full cost of bringing their teachers’ salaries to
the same level as similarly qualified kindergarten and schoolteachers. Directors of Paula’s Preschool and Tiny Tots Tāhunanui, Michael and Heidi Holder, say they are “absolutely heartbroken” with having to make the decision to
close their centres. “We tried every avenue to keep these special centres open, by unfortunately we failed. The longer we stayed open, the deeper in debt we got. We had no other
SEE PAGE 2
Fundraising concert attracts internationally acclaimed act JACK MALCOLM Nelson music fans are in for a treat when Colleen Rae-Gerrad and the Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus take centre stage for a fundraising concert. The internationally acclaimed concert pianist and the 40-strong acapella barbershop chorus will perform at Nelson’s Christ Church Cathedral to raise funds for Richmond’s Holy Trinity Church on 27 May. Colleen has travelled the world playing music, having spent 13 years in Canberra as a teacher the ANU School of Music and being recognised in the 1994/5 edition of the International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians Directory.
SEE PAGE 4
Colleen Rae-Gerrad has performed all over the world and will grace Christ Church Cathedral with her melodies as part of a fundraising concert later this month. Photo: Jack Malcolm.
Trade-in’s welcome - Finance Available
See our large range of mobility options instore today Cnr McGlashen Ave & Croucher St, Richmond LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Ph: 03 544 7717
www.accessmobility.co.nz nelsonapp.co.nz