6. Partnership Schools—Performance and Te Pūmanawa o Te WairuaNUK KORAKO (National) to the Minister of EducationPartnership Schools—Performance and Te Pūmanawa o Te Wairua6. NUK KORAKO (National) to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has she received regarding partnership schools?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Minister of Education): I have received the second MartinJenkins evaluation report on partnership schools. I am pleased overall with the report. It demonstrated that for a relatively new model of schooling partnership schools are delivering good progress on achievement engagement and attendance for students who are Māori Pasifika and from low socio-economic backgrounds. The report also highlighted that the flexible way in which schools were delivering for students enabled them to target support to where it is needed provide individualised learning support and engage with the community to raise expectations.Nuk Korako: What advice has she seen on the differences between special character schools and partnership schools?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I am advised that special character schools do not have the same flexibility that partnership schools have to deliver innovation for their students. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise to the Minister. If I have to deal with very loud interjections coming from my left during question time I might have to ask somebody to leave the Chamber.Hon NIKKI KAYE: There are large differences between the two models. In particular special character schools' funding is clearly allocated for property staffing and operational funding. Anyone implying that it would be a simple transition from a special character school to a partnership school does not understand our school system. Additionally anyone implying that they would close those schools needs to be upfront with the cost to the New Zealand taxpayer and to those parents.Nuk Korako: What information has she seen on Māori achievement under this Government particularly for students from partnership schools? Hon NIKKI KAYE: In 2008 when this Government came into office one in two Māori students was leaving school with a minimum qualification of NCEA level 2. In 2016 74 percent of Māori students received NCEA level 2. This has been achieved through a variety of initiatives targeted at Māori including partnership schools. I am advised that 93 percent of students at partnership schools are priority learners and this includes a significant proportion of young Māori. This achievement information shows significant progress for these students. Chris Hipkins: How much of the $5.2 million spent by the Government on the failed 40-student Whangaruru charter school has been recovered following her predecessor's decision to close the school last year? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am not sure where the interruption is coming from now but the same message I gave to my left applies to the whole House. If this particular question is going to cause a lot of interjection then members will leave the Chamber. I cannot be more clear than that so do not complain when it happens. Hon NIKKI KAYE: There is a legal process occurring so we cannot confirm—it would be inappropriate to comment further—but what I can say is one of the strengths of the partnership school model is that we can close them when they are not performing. Chris Hipkins: Does the debacle at Whangaruru not highlight the flaw in the charter school model given that the Minister of Education Hekia Parata opened it against official advice; it used its set-up grant to buy a farm which continues to be owned by it despite the closure; it did not employ qualified teachers; it was beset by drug use absenteeism and bullying; and even after the decision was made to close it it got another $400000 of taxpayer cash? Hon NIKKI KAYE: Well it does not represent a flaw in the model. That is why we have clearly made a review of those contracts and we have changed the way that we manage a number of these contracts. But I just quote Peeni Henare: The bottom line is why would you stop something that's working." David Seymour: Does the Minister agree with the following statement from the MartinJenkins report: "Sponsors have applied to deliver a [partnership school kura hourua] because they believe they have something valuable to offer and have a deep belief in the value of their approach."?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Yes I do. David Seymour: Does she agree with Willie Jackson at No. 21 on the Labour Party list who said that "I think just about all the schools are doing well" and that "there would be no reason from my observation to close any [partnership] schools [kura hourua]."? Hon NIKKI KAYE: Yes I do agree with Willie Jackson. I just wish Andrew Little would. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Before I call the member for his further supplementary question can I just remind him of Speaker's ruling 174/3: "It is not reasonable to use questions from the governing party or its support parties to attack other members of the House." [Interruption] Order! David Seymour: Can the Minister confirm that the partnership school kura hourua policy has been endorsed as official policy of the Iwi Leaders Forum? Hon NIKKI KAYE: Yes I can and I can also confirm that I have seen statements along the lines of "The bottom line is why would you stop something that's working." But I have also seen statements from a similar organisation which said: "Let me be … clear under Labour Charter Schools will be a thing of the past." [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! The House will settle."