I'm old enough to remember when charter schools started to be given public monies. Prior to that they were predominitely church- based.I think Charter schools have their place and don't think it is a waste of money. A recent overseas report where charter schools have been in place for longer showed them out performing the more traditional public system. The only ones who appeared to want them gone were Labour and surprise, surprise the teachers union. The problem we now have is that we have something that is different to mainstream, that helps particularly with Maori and Pacific Islanders education but will be repealed when there is a change in government. That doesn't give certainly for these schools and would create a lot of changing back and forth over a relatively short period of time.
The average kiwi was outraged that such exclusive, privately-owned and supported schools (through rich and priviledged sectors like farmers - even though they were the most govt subsidised industries around) could partake of the limited public purse. Guess which de ile schools had to grin and bear reduced funding?