Clark promises govt help for grieving families
A helicopter this morning retrieved the last two bodies from the banks of Mangatepopo River, after a school canyoning trip turned tragic.
Six students and a teacher from the co-educational Elim Christian College, in east Auckland, died yesterday after heavy rain swiftly turned the central North Island river into a torrent.
Miss Clark said the loss of the six students and one teacher must be devastating for all those involved.
My sincere condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives in the Mangatepopo River, the Elim Christian College school community, and staff from the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.
This is every family and schools worst nightmare to have this happen when young people are out doing a healthy and normally very enjoyable activity and it turns into a terrible tragedy.
She said the schools Christian grounding would help it through the tragedy.
I feel they are a school with a very strong ethos and that will help them hold together through a very, very difficult time.
Miss Clark said her message for pupils at the school was to stay strong and support fellow students and families and staff.
I understand a number of agencies including the [Education] Ministry have been in contact with the school already.
Victim Support and Counselling have been with the school already. We need to work through with the school community what their needs are. The principal and staff are carrying a very heavy burden at the moment, Miss Clark said.
Asked about the possibility of formal inquiries, Miss Clark said she imaged there would be an inquest.
The issue is whether any other kind of inquiry is triggered with respect to other legislation. I have not had any advice on that at this stage.
Miss Clark said she had been to the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre but had never participated in a course there.
The outdoor pursuits centre has offered young people wonderful opportunities to be in the outdoors for a long period of time. [Sir Edmund] was proud to have his name associated with that and he would feel tremendous sorrow an activity started in good faith could have led to a tragedy such as this.
Education Minister Chris Carter had gone to the school this morning. Miss Clark said government agencies would provide whatever assistance and support they could to the families and school community.
My thoughts are with the families, the whole school community, and the Outdoor Pursuits Centre at this sad time, Miss Clark said.
National Party leader John Key also this morning expressed his condolences to all those affected by the deaths.
- NZPA
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Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pm under