The Prime Minister's Office confirmed yesterday it received 1196 emails as part of the ''e-mob'' campaign led by Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan and his brother Bryan, the Clutha Mayor.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to comment specifically on the campaign, referring the matter to the Minister for Children, Tracey Martin.
''I understand that Stand's decision to close the village is unsettling for some people in the community and people are perfectly entitled to voice their opinion and email the Government,'' Mrs Martin said.
''But to be clear, the Government isn't closing the Roxburgh village. That is a decision for Stand, which is a charity and we don't have control over ... there has been no funding cut for Stand.
''The claims that the Government has somehow broken a promise are just plain wrong.''
She said the service review Oranga Tamariki was undertaking would help find answers to the problems in caring for vulnerable children.
''Oranga Tamariki was formed last year because the whole system of care and protection of children was seen and agreed to be broken.''
Oranga Tamariki was holding hui around the country to discuss with its providers how services for these children could be improved.
A national hui, closed to the public, to collate the information from the regional hui would be held in Wellington on June 28.
But Tim Cadogan said he was told a hui in Balclutha on Friday never discussed the Roxburgh children's village.
''It's a bit unusual that [Mrs Martin] is talking about the hui in that context because Oranga Tamariki said they never discussed it.''
Furthermore, Mr Cadogan said he was feeling ''despondent'' about the situation.
''[Mrs Martin] can try to put as many words between 'action' and 'consequence' as she wishes but simply if the Government put forward the money, the village would still be there.''
He said it may be too late to do anything else if the Government did not change their mind.
''The village closes its door in under a month ... if we don't get a result from that in the next few days then I think the battle has been lost but the scars of that battle will remain.''
