Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Education

26 February 2013

National’s Education Decisions Based on Flawed Logic

New Zealand First says flawed logic is behind Prime Minister John Key’s decision to bail out Wanganui Collegiate on the grounds it has community support, while ignoring the high level of community support for Christchurch schools facing amalgamation or closure.

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin says the Government is pumping more than $3 million to keep Wanganui Collegiate afloat when Education Minister Hekia Parata recommended it should not be integrated into the state system.

“Quake-stressed Christchurch communities could not have been more vocal in their support for keeping local schools open, but it’s fallen on deaf Government ears.

“Clearly not all New Zealand schools are being funded on a fair and equitable basis.

“By ignoring his Minister’s advice and pumping even more taxpayer money into Wanganui Collegiate, Mr Key has dealt another blow to Ms Parata’s already badly dented credibility,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

World Refugee Day:
Are We Doing Our Bit?

On World Refugee Day, Thursday June 20th, Doing Our Bit will officially launch a campaign to double New Zealand’s UNHCR Refugee Resettlement Quota...

New Zealand’s low refugee intake is not a new issue. In February a NZ Herald editorial commented that our intake was ‘paltry’, remarking that ‘surely we could do more’. In April, Amnesty International described the quota as ‘tiny'.

“Despite being a small country in the middle of the South Pacific, New Zealand prides itself on being hospitable. We are friendly to overseas visitors and we see ourselves as punching above our weight in international affairs,” said Murdoch Stephens, coordinator of Doing Our Bit.

“However, in terms of accepting refugees New Zealand is clearly not doing our share.” More>>