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Haines Leah: "Mallard red-faced on mosque" in The Dominion Post (Wellington 5 March 2004)
The Education Minister Trevor Mallard condemned Hagley Community College for for using taxpayers money to convert a classroom into a mosque. He said it was an ill-advised decision to use its funding for a religious group. Mr Mallard later apologised to the Christchurch school saying he had since been advised the building of the mosque was done with the approval and assistance of the ministry's regional office in Christchurch.