Garrett David: Education (Board of Trustee Freedom) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Garrett David: Education (Board of Trustee Freedom) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:665;Page:13023] 
DAVID GARRETT (ACT) 
: 
 I was not intending to take a call on this bill but I cannot resist after hearing that typically hysterical contribution full of code words from Mr Clendon. He began by calling our colleague Sir Roger Douglas and ACT Party members by definition narrow ideologues. That must also apply to the Maori Party; their members are not normally described as narrow ideologues by the Greens but with the particular alignment of the planets today that seems to be it. We are very happy to be aligned with the Maori Party on this bill and that is for one very simple reason: both the ACT Party and the Maori Party are interested in the best results for our kids and the ability to send our kids to the schools that suit them best. It may be for somewhat different reasons but we have the same end. 
I am reminded of the complete lack of understanding of the supporters of that sorry lot over there. During the election campaign I attempted to explain the ACT Party’s education policy but perhaps as a learner candidate I did not do too good a job. I tried to say that at my old office which is situated on what used to be farmland but is now office space there are I think four private schools which have sprung up in the last 10 years. They have sprung up because there is a market there—because there are wealthy Asians who can send their kids to those schools. The minute I said that the typical supporters of the Labour Party howled about wealthy Asians saying: “We don’t want to be at schools like that.” They just did not get it. We were trying to say that everyone should be empowered to send their kids to schools where they think their education will be best served—Maori parents ACT parents and Green parents. 
That is what this bill is all about. It is attempting to allow people to have the choice to go to schools where the education will be best for their kids. I am one of those members in the House—and I do not know how many other members there are who have young children at school— 
Sue Moroney 
: Oh quite a number. 
DAVID GARRETT 
: —OK there is another one—who is as happy as Larry with the performance of the local school. 
In fact my son started school just today. It would not make the slightest bit of difference whether or not we had a voucher system because with his sister he would be going to and would stay at Kaukapakapa School because it is a great school. My daughter is top of her class in English and at that school they are allowed to put up which students are doing better than others because they do not believe in everyone being the same. It works well but if it were not working well she would be down the road at Waitoki School. That is why we are supporting this bill. 
It is no surprise that the Maori Party is supporting the bill. We are behind those members and we agree with them. Even half of the Labour members do; I notice members opposite have gone very quiet. Mr Mallard had a very interesting and useful conversation with Sir Roger but unfortunately he could not break through to “Planet Green” over there so sadly the bill will go down. However we are very happy to stand with our colleagues on this side of the House and it will be very interesting to see when we are next described as narrow-minded ideologues who cannot see anything. Thank you very much.