Pillay Lynne: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Pillay Lynne: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:627;Page:22149] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I am really pleased to take a call to talk about education in New Zealand. I spoke the other night in the Chamber and it was really good to celebrate all the major achievements of this Government. In particular I spoke about Modern Apprenticeships and how successful that scheme is and I am really heartened today to see yet another announcement from our Government that we will be bringing in yet another 5000 Modern Apprenticeships. That scheme was shelved was scrapped under the previous National Government. 
Mark Peck 
: Really! 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Yes it was scrapped under a National Government. So it is really good to see that those quality apprenticeships that Labour has brought back will grow in the next term of a Labour Government. 
Also I cannot go past talking about the wonderful feedback I have had about our announcement of no interest on student loans. That has been a major success. I am really heartened by the young people who have rung me and said that they remember when Labour lifted interest while they were studying but this is just too good to be true. They said that this gives them hope to look towards their future and then once they have finished their studying they know they have employment opportunities in this country under a Labour-led Government and they also know they will have things like paid parental leave when they have their children. 
We have quality early childhood education. That is another thing I really want to comment on. When I look at our early childhood education policy I feel really proud. We know how successful children are when they have quality early childhood education. That is what we in Labour are absolutely committed to delivering. When in 2006 we bring in 20 free hours per week of quality early childhood education in community-based centres that will give tremendous opportunity to young children but also to young parents because they can go to work or take time out from their children knowing that the children are getting quality education education that will give them a good grounding for when they move on to school. 
I have to comment about how proud I am of our Government’s commitment to education. I think it is a 40 percent increase that we have put into funding. I just look at my own electorate. When I look at the new developments extensions and halls I see a real celebration of education. It is something I feel really proud of. 
Something we in Labour hold very dear is the right of every kid in New Zealand to go to his or her local school. We are absolutely committed to that. What do we hear from the other side? We hear that they would abolish school zoning and abolish the right for any child to go to his or her local school. Whilst we are going down that same old tired failed policy line we hear that they would reintroduce bulk funding but this time make it mandatory. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: That’s right. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Maurice Williamson says that that is right. He is proud of it. I know that going backwards to the failed policies of the tired old National Government of the 1990s would not find favour with people who are visionary and forward-looking about education in New Zealand. 
When we look at special education we see the extra funding that this Labour-led Government has put into special education to support children who need added assistance to set them off on their path in life. We in Labour can hold our heads very high and feel very proud about the things we have delivered but we know there is much more. Much more will be delivered in the next term of a Labour-led Government. 
Hon Paul Swain 
: Hear hear! 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Paul Swain has a new baby and he is looking forward to that little girl getting quality early childhood education under a Labour-led Government. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: She’ll be a tertiary student under a Labour Government too. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Exactly; that is right. And as a tertiary student she will not be charged interest on her loan. As a tertiary student that young hopeful Kiwi will be doing very well.