Hon Hekia Parata
Minister of Education

19 November 2012 Media Statement

Education Minister welcomes He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Action Plan

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the He Kai Kei Aku Ringa report from the Māori Economic Development Panel saying it is very consistent with her own approach to improving Māori outcomes in the education system.

“He Kai Kei Aku Ringa is a very helpful piece of work. It makes clear, quality education, skills and training are cornerstones of a productive and thriving economy, and I look forward to the work already under way in the education portfolio contributing to the Government’s Māori Economic Development agenda.’’

Ms Parata reconfirmed the Government’s commitment to raising educational achievement for young people, especially for priority groups such as Māori, Pasifika, learners with special education needs, and those from low income backgrounds.

“We have set Better Public Service targets of 98 per cent of all schools entrants having participated in early childhood education by 2016 and 85 per cent of all 18 years olds having achieved NCEA Level 2 or an equivalent qualification by 2017. We want all our kids to leave school with the skills they need to reach their potential in the modern economy. We are currently refreshing Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success 2008-2012 and utilising a number of Taskforces to focus all our efforts on achieving these results.

“We have seen the number of Maori school leavers’ who have achieved NCEA Level 2 increase from 44.3% in 2009 to over 51% last year. That is great but we still need to do better.

“I welcome the focus and priority this plan is putting on education as a force for economic participation and growth and I expect that the programmes I have underway to improve outcomes among Māori will reflect the report’s recommendations in their work programmes.

“I thank the members of the panel for recognising the vital importance of education in building a stronger Māori economy and for their recommendations.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage