Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7505] 
1. MOANA MACKEY (NZ Labour) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) 
: How is the Government working with business and unions to raise the skill levels of the New Zealand workforce? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education)) 
: 
 This morning I travelled to Format Print in Petone where Carol Beaumont from the Council of Trade Unions Simon Carlaw from Business New Zealand and I launched the  
Skill New Zealand 
 brand—and this is it in my hand—for our tripartite campaign to lift the number of people in workplace learning from 106000 to 250000. The Government has committed $800000 for resource and promotional material to support this campaign. This will complement the efforts of the other partners and industry training organisations to promote industry skills acquisition in the workplace. 
Moana Mackey 
: What concrete commitments has the Government made in the area of workplace learning and what progress is being made towards them? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: We are committed to 150000 trainees by 2005 and a quarter of a million by 2007. There has been a 10 percent increase in trainees from 30 June 2002 to 30 June 2003. We are committed to reaching 7500 Modern Apprenticeships by 2006 and currently have 5739 in training. We are committed to having the Gateway programme in all decile 1 to 5 schools. A further set of schools is being selected for next year. This will mean approximately 63 schools currently will be augmented by almost all decile 1 to 5 schools by the end of next year. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Noting that the single greatest concern of employers is the issue of basic literacy and numeracy skills can the Minister explain why his Government cancelled a nationwide system of national testing as a basic quality assurance measure in the compulsory sector to ensure that all school leavers left school able to read write and do mathematics? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: That question is better directed to the Minister of Education. But if he were here I am sure he would say that this Government has replaced that programme in order to ensure that young New Zealanders leave school literate and numerate so that they can move on to advance their careers or their learning as they choose. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: What is the Minister’s response to the adventure education industry’s claim that his restrictive fee maxima imposed on private training establishments will lead to the closure of 15 regional training centres and the loss of 200 full-time jobs in that industry alone; and how does such an outcome raise the skill levels of the New Zealand workforce? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: My response would be to point to the fact that the private training educators have access to $164 million worth of training opportunities and youth training money; $146 million rising to $150 million next year of what is currently called “EFTS” money; as well as money that comes through sources such as the Ministry of Social Development. So I do not think that will happen. 
David Benson-Pope 
: What is the particular importance of industry training for both employers and employees? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Industry training is a way of improving workplace performance productivity and teamwork. When workplaces are not committed to training there is a lack of leadership low productivity and poor performance and experienced workers are often reduced to the status of assistant orange boy. I think the illustration I have here in the House today is of course the National Party. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No that last comment will be withdrawn. I will not have that here today. I want the last comment withdrawn. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I withdraw. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: I seek leave to table the document in which the claim of loss of jobs in regional centres is made by Adventure Education. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.