What is it with government Ministers thinking they can legislate by press release? First we had the cancellation of the census - something which will require an Act of Parliament. Now we have Anne Tolley calling on schools to ignore their enrolment plans to enrol refugees from Christchurch. But as with the census cancellation, it is simply unlawful. Schools with enrolment schemes are legally obliged to obey them, and admit people from out of zone only by ballot (after prioritising for family connection etc). And that's the law. It Anne Tolley wants that changed, she needs to talk to Parliament, not to her press secretary.
(As for the actual solution, its to go to schools which aren't full. They can legally accept more students, and they are)
