Benson-Pope David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Benson-Pope David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5465] 
6.  
DAVID BENSON-POPE (NZ Labour—Dunedin South) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What steps is the Government taking to improve effective classroom teaching for students of diverse backgrounds? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Inter alia we have allocated $2.65 million over the next 4 years to work on building teaching capability to better meet the needs of diverse students. That will be using the high-quality research done in the previous term of government and will result in the promotion of effective teaching practice extending some of the successful programmes we started and improving teacher professional development. 
David Benson-Pope 
: Could the Minister please detail to the House who will be involved in developing this initiative? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Broadly it will be the compulsory education sector but the early childhood sector will be involved as well. Teachers principals advisers researchers and parents of Maori and Pasifika communities will all be involved. Schools will work in clusters to improve achievement. An expert group will also identify the key dimensions of effective teaching and propose to share that practice with all teachers including failed woodwork teachers. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: How will the education of students of diverse backgrounds be helped by his decision to double the National Certificate of Educational Achievement fees for students particularly given that this morning the New Zealand Qualifications Authority accepted that both it and the Minister acted illegally in increasing those fees? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am informed from behind me that that is not what was accepted. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Couldthe Minister clarify exactly what he is denying— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member can have another supplementary question but we take turns. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister made no attempt at all to answer the question and I do not see why members on this side of the House should have to burn up their supplementary questions because the Minister gives an answer that is not sensible. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister did make an attempt to answer the question. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. When you read the  
Hansard 
 you will be able to see that the Minister said: “I am informed from behind me—” 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Advised. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Advised was it? He said he was advised from behind that such and such was not the case or was not said. Are we to assume that the Minister of Education is so inept and unable to answer questions in his own portfolio area that he has to take advice from the junior whip? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister took issue with the member’s premise and he is able to do just that. 
Metiria Turei 
: How will this improve the effective classroom teaching of te Tiriti o Waitangi to students of diverse backgrounds including te reo Maori the only official language of this country and the only language of the indigenous peoples of this country? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Again I think there is bit of a miss on one of the premises in that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the Minister can give a fuller answer to that question. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. In fairness to the Minister he is being asked a question that I would have thought is wrong. If the member is aware of the fact that Maori is the only official language in New Zealand I think she might be invited under the Standing Orders to authenticate that statement. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No that is not right. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: How is the Minister supposed to answer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister gave a reply. If he wants to add anything he can but the Minister gave a reply that addressed the question as the member rightly pointed out to me. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am prepared to add to it if the member likes. I am not aware that Maori is the only official language of New Zealand. That is not my understanding. 
Bernie Ogilvy 
: Is it the Government’s intention to cater for students of diverse backgrounds by recruiting more teachers from overseas who have little understanding of New Zealand’s education system and who may have language limitations? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Of course not. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have heard some gossip from the cross benches—which is very helpful—that the member claims she can authenticate her question. I am not ruling it out. If she can authenticate it she should be able to ask it. I think she should be invited to do so. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot ask for somebody else to do something in the House.