Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
[Sitting date: 23 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2327. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
: 
 New Zealanders will not be waiting for National’s fourth Budget tomorrow. They expect a zero Budget which means National has a zero plan which means there has been zero growth in jobs because unemployment has gone up. That means zero outcomes for hard-working New Zealanders and that is what they are expecting tomorrow—no surprises on that front.  
But if we translate that zero Budget that zero plan and that zero outcome for Kiwis in education what do we see? We see Treasury-led policy in one of the most important portfolios that that Government is presiding over: $43 million in savings under National by moving towards larger class sizes and capping teachers at the current levels. If that is National’s solution to grow the economy and the future of our citizens we will not have a bit of it. Parents all over the country are worried about their children starting school and going into larger class sizes.  
The Minister of Education confirmed time after time in questions in the House that her ambition in education is driven by Treasury not by evidence-based policy that is proven to show educational outcomes for all learners and in particular our most vulnerable learners. That is the type of education policy coming out of National. We should not confuse her ambition with her ability to deliver to all Kiwi kids who deserve the very best in education. Her ambition is thwarted by her ability to deliver on that front and we will challenge her time and time again in this House. Why? Because she said very clearly that trade-offs are being made. Trade-offs are being made between class sizes and teacher quality.  
Parents who are listening to that Minister answering questions on those issues are concerned. Members on this side of the House are receiving emails in fact on that very matter. We believe that it should not be a question of trade-offs in education but a combination of measures that will improve learning opportunities for all our children and—yes indeed—our most vulnerable and challenged and disadvantaged learners across this country. We do not want any child to miss out and we do not want any child to be left behind. 
But do not take my word for it. I have got a newsletter that was produced just on Monday from Willowbank School. You know this is a big thing for a school to put out information in its newsletter informing its parents about the impact of National’s changes. The Minister in the House today said that an extra one or two kids in a class will not make a fundamental difference but here is what Willowbank School said to its parents: “Class sizes for year 2 and 3 will increase increasing the number of children for reading writing and mathematics groups or increasing the actual number of groups a teacher would need to see in a day. This decreases the amount of time a teacher is able to spend with individual children particularly if there are more children in the class requiring extra learning or behavioural support.” 
The early development of literacy and mathematics is crucial if curriculum expectations are to be achieved. The Minister’s ambitions should not be confused with her ability to deliver so that every child is able to achieve in education. All our young children deserve the very best start in school. Establishing a good relationship with their teacher and a teacher who has enough time for one-on-one engagement really does matter. Labour backs all our children getting the best start at school; National does not. It has got a zero plan with zero outcomes for children in education which means many will miss out. Many will be left behind.  
But again do not take my word for it. I have got an email from a person in Whangarei a principal and he said: “It’s being blatantly dishonest to the public to infer that a few extra kids in a class won’t make much difference. You know as well as I do that your kids will hurt. It’s the very groups that you say you care about those needing extra help those falling behind including many of our own children who you say you are fighting for.” That is from someone in Whangarei Minister. You have that letter.  
There is also one from someone in Westport down in the south. They are saying: “We too fear for the future provision of our most vulnerable students in relation to the most recent education policy announcement by that Minister.” But again do not take my word for it listen to those people who are experts in the—