Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:640;Page:10385] 
10.  
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does he stand by his statement that “86000 children will definitely get 20 free hours under Labour”; if so by what date? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Yes. Nearly 67000 children are already benefiting from the Labour-led Government’s policy of 20 hours’ free early childhood education and that number will continue to rise as the policy rolls out in the months ahead. 
Katherine Rich 
: Does the Minister appreciate that when he said 86000 children would definitely get access to 20 free hours most parents assumed that that access would be in July 2007; what happened to the 27000 kids who are left out during that month? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: At the time that that number was articulated there were 86000 3 to 4-year-olds in early childhood centres. That number has now risen to around 92000. I imagine the eligible number will continue to rise and we will fund to that number. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: How many children will be worse off if the policy of 20 hours’ free early childhood education is abolished? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Almost 67000 children currently are benefiting from this policy and of course those numbers will continue to rise in the months ahead. That translates into probably more than 100000 parents facing fee rises if this policy is cut and into restrictions on fees if it is done away with. That is a lot of parents and that is a lot of centres. Right now the one question they want an answer to is where does the National Party stand on this policy. 
Katherine Rich 
: How much are parents actually saving under the 20 free hours policy: is it the $90 a week that the Prime Minister pre-election said parents would save is it the $60 a week that the Minister is currently using as a figure or is it the fewer than $20 a week that New Zealand Kindergartens is saying parents are actually saving under this policy? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: As I told journalists yesterday we will know more information when we can audit all of the sector after one financial year. But I have heard a range of figures. For example I have heard people say they will save $30 $35 $60 and up to $90. There is a wide range of savings out there in the sector. That is why the policy is so popular and that is why all of those parents want to know what Katherine Rich’s policy is on 20 hours’ free early childhood education. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why is there a big gap between the pre-election rhetoric when the Prime Minister told parents they would save $90 a week and what is being said this week with the New Zealand Kindergartens saying that parents are actually saving less than $20 a week; is it like the big gap in rhetoric between what the Minister is telling Massey University in private and what he is telling the newspapers in public? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: There is never any gap between rhetoric and action when the Prime Minister is involved. 
Paula Bennett 
: How many early childhood education centres have opted in to the 20 hours free policy and can the Minister confirm that centres are listed on the ministry’s website as having opted in when they have not as happened in the case of Tinytown Learning Centre in Pakuranga whose name was taken off the website yesterday only after a number of complaints were made; are any of the Minister’s figures factual? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The ministry stands by all of its figures. I think we began with 1703 and since 26 June when we counted the number of services 73 more services have joined. I expect that that number will continue to rise. 
Paula Bennett 
: Is it not correct that at this stage up to 66800 children might get 20 free hours—but of course they will not be free—but the Minister is not sure of that number and that 1776 centres have opted in but the Minister’s own website tells a completely different story; is it not true that the only thing we can be sure of is that at least 10000 children in New Zealand are not accessing any early childhood education at all and this policy has not helped them in the slightest? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The Ministry of Education stands by its numbers and the only thing that people around this country can be sure of is that they are better off with a Labour Government.