The future of St Thomas of Canterbury College, a prestigious integrated Catholic school in Christchurch, is uncertain as the Christian Brothers’ New Zealand charitable trust seeks court approval to sell the school’s land and buildings. The sale is intended to contribute funds toward compensating sexual abuse victims in Australia.
St Thomas of Canterbury College has an enrollment of over 700 students and operates on land originally gifted by the Bishop of Christchurch. The school’s property is owned by the Trustees of Christian Brothers of New Zealand, which is overseen by the Catholic Church’s Oceania Province. According to a statement released by the school’s board and Principal Steve Hart, the Christian Brothers have filed a court request for permission to sell these assets. The board has expressed its strong opposition to the proposal but affirmed its commitment to continuing the school’s educational operations.
“We have a long history here on land that was originally gifted by the bishop of Christchurch for our school. We will work with the Ministry of Education and the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch as this matter progresses to find the right solution for our school,” the statement said. The school operates under an integration agreement, a contract with the Ministry of Education that allows it to function within the state education system while maintaining its special Catholic character. The board assured that current day-to-day operations remain unchanged despite the legal proceedings.
The Ministry of Education’s Canterbury and Chatham Islands director, Coralanne Child, confirmed awareness of the situation but declined further comment, emphasizing that any decisions affecting the integration agreement would require careful consideration. She reassured that the school’s governance remains with its board and its focus continues to be on the wellbeing and education of students and staff.
The move to sell land and buildings is tied to the wider financial difficulties faced by the Christian Brothers amid numerous historic child sexual abuse claims. Australian media have reported that 22 percent of Australian Christian Brothers between 1950 and 2010 had credible accusations of abuse against them. The order has paid approximately AUD 571.5 million (NZD equivalent) in related claims up to 2024 and recently became the first Catholic religious order in Australia to initiate an orderly liquidation process known as a creditor’s scheme of arrangement. This measure aims to address outstanding claims, including those from abuse survivors.
The Trustees of Christian Brothers of New Zealand operate as a Catholic religious institute focused on education and social relief, holding assets valued at nearly NZD 67 million as of December 2024. The New Zealand branch is part of the broader Christian Brothers’ Oceania Province, which serves communities across Australia, New Zealand, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
Education Minister Erica Stanford and representatives from the Christian Brothers Oceania Province have been contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.