Patterson MarkMARK PATTERSON (NZ First): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I must say just before I start that it's a little rich being lectured on ballot stuffing by the party that came up with that pearler of a bill the lost luggage bill". And I think that shows the contrast in our Government. If this is a ballot stuffing bill—a bill that sets out to create a much better education system—then I'll be on this side of the House any day.It is a privilege to stand and support on behalf of New Zealand First the Education (National Education and Learning Priorities) Amendment Bill. Of course we know that that amends the Education Act of 1989. I would like to take the opportunity to commend Jan Tinetti for bringing this bill forward and at a time when there has been some debate about the prevalence of professional politicians coming into this House I note Jan Tinetti and her 30 years as a professional educator. The value that she has given our select committee both as the deputy chair and as the sponsor of this bill has been invaluable. She will make a significant contribution to this Parliament in terms of advancing our education programme. And what an education programme it is.We are here of course in the third reading of the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELPs) bill but we have a wide suite of educational policies that we are bringing forward to rebuild our public education system. And of course we in New Zealand First are very proud of the work that our very own Associate Minister Tracey Martin is playing in this space and we know that she's done a lot of work on this over the years. It's great to see her in a position of influence so she can help this rebuilding of our public education system.It has been 30 years since the Education Act of 1989. It was Tomorrow's Schools but they are now yesterday's schools. And we have done a lot in terms of consultation with the industry—of course the hui that was undertaken earlier on by the Minister—bringing everyone in to have a root-and-branch look at our education system. And look at what we've already done prior to that—national standards: taking that system out.I'd just go to the NELPs bill and a lot of the things that the NELPs bill is looking to address: resilience determination confidence creative and critical thinking good social skills the ability to form good relationships participation in community life fulfilment of civic and social responsibilities and preparedness to work. None of those things—none of those things—were captured by national standards in their very narrow focus on education. So that shows what we are trying to do on this side of the House in broadening the scope of our education system for the 21st century.Of course we've taken the charter schools—the partnerships schools—out of the system and brought them under the umbrella of the public system which they should never have left. Of course there's a lot of work we're doing with tertiary fees and making tertiary education more affordable. What has not been widely recognised is that most of that the majority of that funding is going to people in vocations: our plumbers—Hon Ruth Dyson: Apprenticeships.MARK PATTERSON: —apprenticeships—our builders and the people who really need it as we have this economy humming along.The theme of this bill is consultation. We've heard from the Minister about how important this is and we've heard from the member when she spoke as a professional educator of how she felt disconnected from the system and that her voice was not being heard. This bill obliges the Minister to consult widely—children and young people.Of course the Minister referenced the words of Judge Becroft the Children's Commissioner and some of the work that he's doing in talking to children about the education system and seeing how valued that voice is—teachers principals and schools themselves. During the committee process I actually asked the member about rural schools because as a member of the board of a rural area school often our issues are different. We've got isolation and we don't have the numbers maybe to provide all the services that maybe the bigger schools have. Those area schools will now have a voice that the Minister is obliged to hear and they will be knocking at his door I'm sure—the Lawrence Area School will be anyway.Early childhood: I will acknowledge Jo Luxton on our select committee as well who has a background in the early childhood sector and the depth of talent that we have on our side of the bench.Disability support staff are a really undervalued part of our education system and what a vital role they play.Māori and Pasifika: we know that the statistics do not flatter those sectors of our community and we must do better. The Minister will need to consult widely with Māori and Pasifika under this bill.State and integrated schools: I think it's worthy from the select committee submissions to quote once again the Children's Commissioner the aforementioned Judge Andrew Becroft when he said "Hearing from … incorporating the views of children and young people deliver better and more robust decisions … We support the intention to create a more equitable system that supports children to develop to their full potential and that ensures children and young people have a say in the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities." There was this quote from speech and language therapist Dr Shannon Hennig: "family and [children] voices are essential [in] developing effective educational policy [into] law." and that is the voice that the Minister will have to hear.In the NZEI they "welcome this because it gives students [a] voice and agency in the process and recognises the critical contribution [and] knowledge … expertise of the teaching profession will make [in] the priority-setting process." and I know how important that is. In fact my sister and her husband are long-standing teachers—35 years; even longer than Jan Tinetti—in the education system. I know how frustrated they too feel with those provisions and the fact that the Government often doesn't appear to be hearing their voice. From now on in they will.There were 20 submissions and they were broadly supportive—I think almost all supportive—which is a sign that this Government is on the right track with this bill and it enjoys wide support from the wider teaching and education community.As I said at the start this is about another brick in the wall—Hon Mark Mitchell: Ha ha!Hon Tim Macindoe: He don't need no education!MARK PATTERSON: —of rebuilding our public education system. I knew you'd like that one. You're a bit of a Pink Floyd man I'm sure Mr Mitchell. But it's an important piece of work for this Government. It is a priority that we set. I know our select committee as Denise Lee referred to before does have a busy programme of work and that is reflective of the importance that we see this sector having and of the need to rebuild it. Some of that goes back to that 1989 Act—30 years since we've had a good root-and-branch look at our education system.Of course may I say that Labour Governments have always had a flavour of educators and teachers coming through who strongly influence—and those Governments supported here of course by New Zealand First and our confidence and supply partner the Greens are fully supportive of that. So the education system is in really really good hands with this Government as we forge on to 2020 and what a story we will have to tell the people of New Zealand about education and the priority that we have put on it and we will be starting to see the outcomes by then.So New Zealand First—Hon Members: Ten nine eight.MARK PATTERSON: —takes absolute pleasure in commending—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Order!MARK PATTERSON: —this bill to the House and it commends particularly the member Jan Tinetti for bringing this forward. Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. [Applause]ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Order! I know this is light-hearted but the Speaker in previous decisions said applause like that interrupting the flow of the debate is not acceptable. Also a countdown is not acceptable. Let's just return to debating the bill."