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Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Minister Dr Hon Pita Sharples have met with representatives of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board tonight to discuss the allegations made against them.

“While we were encouraged by the actions that the Trust has taken so far, which they have advised us of tonight, we have informed the Trust that the Ministry of Education will be commissioning an independent, specialist audit firm to review the controls the Trust has in place to assure itself that public funding is being used appropriately.

Fakaalofa lahi atu

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says Niue Language Week is a great opportunity for all New Zealanders to celebrate the unique culture and language of one of our most vibrant Pacific communities.

“Niue Language Week runs from October 13-19 with the theme, Leveki mo e fakaaoga e Vagahau Niue – Treasure and use the Niue Language, providing a strong focus for events around the country,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says she will review carefully the outcome of the judicial review brought by Phillipstown School.

“We will urgently examine Justice Fogarty’s decision, and our options, including continuing consultation on the issue that was of concern to the Court.

“These are unique circumstances and, while it is never an easy decision to merge a school, it is clear that Christchurch education needs to be organised differently post the earthquakes.

Education Minister Hekia Parata welcomes the New Zealand Initiative's Report 'World Class Education? - Why NZ must strengthen its teaching profession' as a further contribution to the Quality Teaching Agenda she has established.

While the New Zealand education system performs well, with four out of five young people leaving with the qualifications they need, it is not performing for all. And there have been worrying signs for some time that it is becoming less and less competitive when benchmarked against other comparative international systems.

Bula Vinaka.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, says the first-ever Fijian Language Week provides a chance for all New Zealanders to celebrate Fijian culture and help to ensure the survival of the Fijian language.

“Fijian Language Week will run from October 7-13 with the theme, Noqu Vosa, Noqu iYau Talei: My Language, My Treasure, providing a strong focus for events around the country,” Ms Parata says. 

Education Minister Hekia Parata says that attendance at the two day OECD Ministers Meeting in Istanbul was an excellent opportunity to hear what other education systems are doing to foster relevant skills and improve employability through education. With over 25 education systems represented, it was a rich exchange of information, challenges, and approaches.

The Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board has announced two new education initiatives as part of this year’s 70th anniversary celebrations of one of New Zealand’s greatest war heroes.

In recognition of the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Second Lieutenant Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Ngārimu, the Board will invest $250,000 into resourcing histories of each of the Māori Battalion's four rifle companies and related initiatives.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has invited a delegation of education sector leaders to travel to Hong Kong and Singapore in mid-October to look at jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region which are rated highly in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings.

Education Minister Hekia Parata will attend the OECD Education Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul on “Fostering Relevant Skills and Employability through Education”.

The meeting is one of a few international education forums which has a high attendance by Ministers of Education. Over 30 Ministers of Education are expected to attend.

“This is a forum to share good practice and discuss challenges faced by leading education systems across the world.

Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today that the Government is partnering with the Universities of Auckland, Waikato and Otago to provide new postgraduate level initial teacher education (ITE) qualifications from next year.

“The Government is focused on strengthening the teaching profession as a central part of a larger strategy to lift overall education system performance. Improving the quality of ITE provision is an important element of that strategy,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today corrected the report that said the ‘Government could step in and take over schools if students marks aren’t good enough.’

“School interventions happen for a number of reasons related to educational performance. Previously, they have been due to safety, HR or financial issues, which are easier to recognise as there have always been measures in place to determine if there is a problem,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a plan to transform the way school property is delivered to better support 21st Century learning environments and improved outcomes for students.

“Just as importantly, it will free up sector leaders, principals and their boards, to focus on the main business of schools – raising achievement,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today met with Phil Harding, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) to discuss action to strengthen confidence in New Zealand’s high trust model of education.

The Minister initiated the meeting following public comments made by Mr Harding that he believed there were examples of unprofessional assessment and teaching practice in some schools that might affect the reliability of schools’ National Standards data.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister John Banks today announced the first Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua.

Minister Parata says Partnership Schools offer a new, innovative and dynamic approach to engaging students in education.

“They will help young Kiwis be the best they can be by helping raise aspirations and encouraging them to succeed,” she says.

Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, welcomed the opportunity to discuss Pasifika education matters with Samoa Education Minister, Hon Magele Mauiliu Magele.

“New Zealand is a Pacific nation and we have a vested interest in strong relationships in our Pacific neighbourhood, including in the education status of all Pasifika people both here and in the Pacific nations themselves,” says Ms Parata.

The largest Pasifika community in New Zealand are Samoans who make up almost half of the Pasifika population in New Zealand.

Tēnā koutou katoa, Kia orana, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Talofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, and greetings to you all.

Thank you for inviting me to be part of this feast of education expertise.

The Minister of Education Hekia Parata has confirmed that resources will be available to support one principal in each of the greater Christchurch learning clusters, to spend up to a day a week working across the schools and early childhood services in the cluster to further develop and implement their learning plans.

Around 35 clusters of schools and early childhood services have been working together over the last ten months, to progress community level collaborative activity, as part of the greater Christchurch education renewal programme.

Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today the proposed Aranui Community Campus will go ahead, and three New Brighton schools will merge. The estimated costs will be over $41 million.

“The government is committed to the rebuild of Christchurch. That’s why we’re investing $1 billion into renewing the education network in greater Christchurch over the next 10 years,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today met with the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC) and asked them to urgently review cancellations of the registration of teachers with serious convictions.

The Minister was responding to reports in the weekend media that revealed that at least two high profile convicted sex offenders were still listed as registered teachers.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says the Pacific business community is playing a key role in New Zealand’s economic future by inspiring and mentoring the next generation of Pacific business leaders.

“By 2026 one in eight people between the ages of 15-39 in New Zealand will be of Pacific descent. Because of this young and fast growing demographic, Pacific people have the opportunity to help shape and influence New Zealand’s economic future,” says Ms Parata.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says that in a short space of time the new Pacific Early Learning Mobile Outreach Service (PELMOS) SMARTBUS has given more Pacific parents a taste of early childhood education (ECE).

Ms Parata officially launched the SMARTBUS in South Auckland today.

The production of high-quality educational resources, including the renowned School Journal, will continue after the Government’s decision to wind down the operations of government-owned Learning Media, Finance Minister Bill English and Education Minister Hekia Parata say.

Learning Media today announced the decision because it is apparent the company is not financially viable.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today released information providing a clear picture of how all parts of the pre-school and school system are performing and supporting each other at a local level.

“We recognise for all parents their children’s success at school is a high priority.  The information being released allows parents and communities to have a fuller picture of how their children are doing at school. It gives them valuable data to help them get behind their schools to help children to reach their educational potential,” says Ms Parata.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says Tongan Language Week is a great opportunity for the Tongan community to help ensure the preservation of their language and culture in New Zealand.