Marcroft JennyJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First): Thank you Mr Speaker. The Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill will ensure that those who use the title of teacher will be qualified with the required training and skills. Now why is this so important? No longer is teaching simply about standing in front of a classroom. Gone are the days of the dictatorial style of imparting information. Now we know that old style is not the best pathway to critical thinking. Teaching today is about catering to the needs of diverse learners. Professional teachers who understand how a child learns are able to design programmes of learning that recognise diverse learners.I'd just like to make comment tonight on those who have contributed to this debate and I thank all of the members of this House. I'd like to mention Jo Luxton—thank you for your contribution—who wants to see teachers valued and the valuable career choice with the mana restored to teachers; the Hon Paul Goldsmith the lonely man on the street who failed to see the logic from the original drawer-upper"; Chlöe Swarbrick who said this bill will protect and value the status of our teachers—we see the value as a Parliament of our teachers—thank you for your contribution; Jan Tinetti a fantastic educator and a great addition to this House. She says teachers matter. That is the message and this bill sends a message. Tim Macindoe from across the House—why would we do this? Well the member missed the point. The bill will raise the status of teachers. Eric Stanford my friend from select committee—Jami-Lee Ross: Erica. She's female. It's Erica.JENNY MARCROFT: Erica Stanford from—Kiritapu Allan: Good mates. We're all new.JENNY MARCROFT: Good friends good friends—new friends. It is no thinly veiled attack on charter schools—the veil was lifted.Teaching is about partnering with the parents connecting with our communities. Kiwi parents have lofty aspirations for their children. Parents want the best for their tamariki. They're heavily invested in ensuring quality outcomes for their children. Now this bill will help them understand who is teaching their children. If we're going to have strong partnerships with whānau and with communities to improve the educational outcomes for all of our tamariki we must ensure the professional status of teachers is recognised.Now we did hear an argument from the other side of the House and I'd like to acknowledge the former education Minister who said that this bill contravenes the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Now during the Key and English Governments I'd just like to point out the National Government put through 20 Government bills—20 Government bills—that were concluded to be inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act as well as three members' bills.Addressing also the issue of teacher shortage and those who have a limited authority to teach an LAT—well this is not stopping the subject matter specialists. Those with an LAT from teaching they will still be able to teach; it simply stops them using the same title as those who have a teaching qualification. Now by protecting the status of the title of teacher and giving it the status it deserves combined with the Government's new introduction of the first year fees-free for tertiary education it may actually attract more people to study teaching. We can only encourage more of our young people to become teachers like they do in Norway and in Finland. That's where they value their teachers and that's what we would like to achieve here too.So in conclusion the Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill will lift the public status of teachers and protect the title of teacher. We hope this bill goes through to select committee and the conversation then continues with extensive public participation and robust discussion between all stakeholders. Kia ora koutou."