Statutory intervention at Gore Catholic college ends

By CathNews New Zealand

October 24th, 2025

Kieran Udy (St Peter’s College, Gore)

The Ministry of Education has ended the two-and-a-half-year statutory intervention at St Peter’s College in Gore. Source: Otago Daily Times.

The intervention had been in place since April 2023, when the ministry appointed limited statutory manager Nicola Hornsey. The intervention aimed to address issues with the school’s governance and support its special character.

Earlier this year, Ms Hornsey said strengthening the special character of the college was a key focus in 2025.

Principal Kieran Udy, who started at the school this year, was no stranger to the intervention process, having brought another school out of a similar situation. He had promised to return St Peter’s to normal operations.

Mr Udy said this week the school was not just back on track, but is pushing forward and would be stronger than ever.

“A key part was the relationship between the board and the school leadership – it’s fantastic, rock solid,” he said.

“We have good, robust and open communication and a shared vision of the future. We’re looking at how we can get the best outcomes for our students, linking into the local community [and] local industry.”

The school will start a construction programme next year, with students building a house on-site, alongside other programmes designed to grow on local strengths and talents.

Board of trustees presiding member Ceri Macleod said now that the intervention was over, the school was in a stronger place, and she was very optimistic about where it was heading.

“There have been difficult times on the journey, but we’ve worked over these two-and-a-half years on the core values, structures and processes, with the students as our focus.

“We’ve grown along the way, strengthened our capacity and capability. [We’ve] found ourselves in a place now with a glowing future ahead of us.”

It was all about communication and trust, Mrs Macleod said.

Both Mrs Macleod and Mr Udy thanked the community, stating their school still punched well above its weight.

FULL STORY

Ministry ends statutory intervention at St Peter’s College (By Gerrit Doppenberg/Otago Daily Times)

Progress made in intervention (Otago Daily Times)