Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:13111. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to theMinister of Education: Does she stand by her statement with regards to Wanganui Collegiate that “integrating the school will ensure…that a Collegiate education is available to a wider number of students”; if so why?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Associate Minister of Education) on behalf of theMinister of Education: Yes; because it is self-evident that the integration of Wanganui Collegiate School increased the State integration options available to families that reside in the Whanganui-Rangitīkei area. I acknowledge however that it is still very early days. The school has been integrated for less than a year. It is important to note that the proprietor has made a commitment to making this happen.Chris Hipkins: When she signed off the decision to integrate Wanganui Collegiate had she read the Ministry of Education’s advice on the financial implications for the Crown which stated that the approximate additional cost to the Crown if the school was to integrate would be over $3 million annually in staffing and operational funding costs and does she believe that this constitutes value for money given that this works out to be a bill of over $440000 per student for the additional seven students who are going to have day places at Wanganui Collegiate?Hon NIKKI KAYE: There were three parts to that. In terms of the last part I disagree with the number that the member quoted. In terms of the other part of the question around cost I am aware that the cost of integration is about $3 million. But can I say this: members opposite say that they care about the provinces and say that they back the provinces and its communities but when it comes to a school that has contributed significantly to the local economy in this House they do not back them.Chris Hipkins: I am happy to help the Minister out. I seek leave to table three documents. The first is a Ministry of Education briefing specifying the cost of over $3 million annually.Mr SPEAKER: That is described. What is the second document?Chris Hipkins: The second document is the aide-mémoire stating that the roll for day students pre-integration was 143 and the third is the integration agreement which shows that post-integration the roll is 150.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table those three documents. Is there any objection? There is none. They can be tabled.Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House.Chris Hipkins: Has she seen Wanganui Collegiate School’s enrolment scheme which provides that where there are more applicants who live in the area than places available priority will be given to siblings of current pupils then children of employees and board members then siblings of past pupils then children of past pupils and only then to other children living in the area; if so does she believe that her decision to integrate the school means that a Wanganui Collegiate education will be available to a wider number of students or is it simply going to remain a school for the wealthy and the privileged?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Yes; and yes. Can I also say that the proprietor has committed via an agreement to broadening the availability of its quality education and special character to more families from a wider range of circumstances. I do note that when you look at the breakdown of the cost you see that currently the maximum attendance dues are $2760. I think the member opposite needs to give this school time and I do back the integration of this school.Louise Upston: What other reports has the Minister seen on Wanganui Collegiate?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I have seen a statement that said: “It was very important for this district that integration was granted ... I am very pleased that it has been.” This person went on to say that he hoped that the four other State secondary schools in Whanganui were also looked after: “There are top local secondary schools here.” That was HamishMcDouall Labour candidate for Whanganui. The reality is—Chris Hipkins: When she signed off the decision to—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Supplementary question—will the member start again please.Chris Hipkins: When she signed off the decision to integrate Wanganui Collegiate had she read the Ministry of Education’s advice that Wanganui Collegiate does not make a significant contribution to raising achievement for priority groups—Māori and Pasifika learners with special education needs or learners from low-income backgrounds—and that integrating the school is not making the best use of educational resources for this area and will not contribute to raising the quality of education for learners in the Whanganui area to any extent; if so does she still believe that her decision to integrate the school means that a Wanganui Collegiate education is available to a wider number of students or is it just going to remain a school for the wealthy and the privileged?Hon NIKKI KAYE: In terms of reading that document because I am answering on behalf of the Minister I obviously cannot answer that question. In terms of the other two parts to the question I am advised that this school is a high-achieving school. I am also advised that there were a number of documents that were saying that achievement is good but also that the benefit to the local economy was significant and that in terms of the other criteria taken into account many boarders across New Zealand will haveaccess to the school. So there are huge benefits from integration. I support the integration of the school.Chris Hipkins: Has she seen the reports that the school fees for day students at Wanganui Collegiate School in 2013 are $10900 over $1000 more than they were before integration; if so does she believe that her decision to integrate Wanganui Collegiate School which has led to its fees going up and only seven additional day places being made available is going to lead to a wider number of students getting access to a Wanganui Collegiate education or is it just going to remain a school for the wealthy and the privileged?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I think the member does make some incorrect assumptions there. Secondly what I would say to the member is that in terms of the fees situation I am aware that the attendance fee is the only part that is actually compulsory. In terms of those other fees the meals charge is for voluntary good. The other charges are in the donations category and parents are free to choose whether they pay at all. What I would say is that the member is out there saying that this is not a good integration but at the end of the day it is early days. There were many wider benefits for this integration and he is being very very—I think—dodgy in terms of the statements that he is using because we know what the real figures are in terms of what is compulsory and what is a donation.Chris Hipkins: When she said that those additional fees were voluntary and parental contributions were voluntary did she realise that those voluntary fees include meals house activities and supervision? If the family of a day student chooses to purchase these goods and services then they are required to pay for them. Therefore if a family does not purchase these goods and services then the proprietor is not required to provide the student with meals house activities or supervision. Does that mean that the children of those parents who are unable to pay the $5200 parental contribution will not be supervised and will not be able to attend house activities a requirement of the school?Hon NIKKI KAYE: As I have said this is the breakdown: the attendance due is compulsory for parents. The meal charge is for a voluntary good; that is if parents agree that their child will eat the school’s meals then fair enough but parents must have that choice. The charge cannot be levied automatically. All other charges are in the donations categories and parents are free to choose whether to pay all some or none of them. The Ministry of Education will monitor this very closely.