Carter Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Carter Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:670;Page:16580] 
3. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Independent—Te Atatu) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does she agree with the Rt Hon John Key’s comment at Waitangi’s Te Tii Marae last year that improving education outcomes for Maori children would help address rising Maori unemployment? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Of course. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Can she explain then to the House how cutting Government funding to over 2000 early childhood centres by some $285 million improves the educational outcome for Maori students? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: First of all I say that this Government is investing more in early childhood education than any other Government has ever done: $1.4 billion which is up now over 10 percent of the education budget. The second thing I say is that under the previous Government which that member used to be a member of a considerable number of children particularly Maori did not access early childhood education. In some areas up to 20 percent of Maori children were unable to access early childhood education. This Government is putting almost $100 million into early childhood education participation projects aimed at lifting Maori participation. 
Colin King 
: What initiatives has she taken to improve Maori education outcomes since becoming Minister of Education? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: We are taking this issue extremely seriously. It is why we have introduced national standards and now whanaketanga rumaki Maori to pick up struggling kids before it is too late and help them to read write and do maths. We are introducing the Youth Guarantee to help address the fact that more than half of Maori students are dropping out of school without a worthwhile qualification. We also have a number of Maori-focused initiatives—it is a long list; I will keep it as brief as possible—early childhood education participation projects and extending 20 free hours to kohanga reo; $36 million to support schools with national standards and now whanaketanga rumaki Maori; $45 million in this financial year alone on kura developments; extending Te Kotahitanga and He Kakano; helping to better manage Maori learner engagement and attendance of students; the parents families and whanau programme; the 43 iwi relationships; and more te reo teachers. This list compares with the Labour Government’s great initiative to improve Maori learning: the “Wassup!” badges. Do members remember them? That was Labour’s answer to Maori— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I allowed the Minister to go on for quite a while on that answer. I think we have heard sufficient. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Mr Speaker— 
Hon Members 
: Wassup! 
Hon Chris Carter 
: What is up is that education is being wrecked— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I intend to make sure that we start this year as we are going to carry on. I have just reminded the Minister that answers are not time for a speech. I listened while the Minister was giving information but once she went on to attack the Opposition in response to a question from her own colleague I interrupted her. I ask the member when I have called him to just ask his question please. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Is she aware of Ministry of Education statistics that clearly demonstrate that increased early childhood education funding by the Labour Government between 2000 and 2007 led to an increase in participation of Maori preschoolers from 84 percent to 90.6 percent and Pasifika preschoolers from 76.1 percent to 84 percent and does that not just prove that educational success happens when we put in more resources not cut them? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Yes the Labour Government increased funding dramatically—in fact three times. It trebled the money that was going to early childhood education. Unfortunately across the board the children turning up at school having had early childhood education experience grew by less than 1 percent. So throwing money at something does not get good results. All it gets is an out-of-control education system. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I seek leave to table some statistics prepared by the Ministry of Education showing increased participation through the period that the Labour Government spent extra on early childhood education funding. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I seek leave to table a report in which the Swannanoa Preschool makes two points: one that they are losing $100000— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: —a year in their budget. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will resume his seat immediately. He will not go on to make a statement like that without making very clear what the report or document is that he is seeking to table. He did not make the source of the document clear. Before he says what is in it he will make the source clear. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Sure. The $100000 cut is noted in the  
Northern Outlook 
 community newspaper. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Widely read! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am on my feet. That is exactly why the member should have identified what the document was before he sought to make his political point. I will not tolerate that kind of thing. 
Sue Moroney 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the Minister of Education to the Matua Plunket Kindergarten proposing that it increase fees for 20 hours’ free early childhood education to make up for her funding cuts to the kindergarten. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.