9. Question No. 9—EducationHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 9—Education9. Hon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Education: Does he stand by his statements and actions regarding students and teachers?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Yes.Hon Nikki Kaye: Does he stand by his statement that he will work in a way that respects and engages iwi given Sir Toby Curtis' statement today: If the Minister hasn't gone to the schools to talk to the people in the schools if the Minister hasn't gone and spoken to the parents if the ministry hasn't gone to the schools and talked properly to the teachers if the ministry hasn't done their job properly I'm left with no other view than that this is a process of bullying that we have never had or experienced in this country."?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question: yes absolutely because this Government believes that Māori students regardless of where they're going to school are entitled to a world-class education so that they can fulfil their full potential. Where I differ from the quotation of the member—I don't think Māori students should have to leave the public education system in order to get the quality of education they deserve.Hon Nikki Kaye: Will he commit to asking the Education and Workforce Committee to urgently take out provisions from the Education Amendment Bill that remove the partnership school model in light of the claim in front of the Waitangi Tribunal?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No.Hon Nikki Kaye: Does he agree with Sir Toby Curtis who when asked about what he would want to say to him and the Prime Minister regarding partnership schools said that "this is a situation that calls for a bit of aroha"; and where is the love for these students that he won't even bother visiting?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Well I do agree with the member that in fact in all of the decisions we make about education we should show a little bit of aroha and I am currently considering the applications of the existing charter schools to become State schools and I am not going to make comment on that while that process is ongoing.Hon Nikki Kaye: Will he take responsibility for his actions and start listening given a large group of principals have given him a "fail" mark on NCEA primary teachers are striking for the first time in 24 years and there is a claim lodged in the Waitangi Tribunal alleging multiple breaches by him and the Government?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'll answer all three of those things. But first this Government is going to great lengths to listen to all New Zealanders' views when it comes to education and we keep being criticised by the Opposition for doing so who seem to alternate between saying we're consulting too much and alternating between saying we're not consulting enough. With regard to the threat of strike action by the primary teachers this Government is not responsible for the current pay and conditions that the teachers are dissatisfied with. All of those agreements were reached under the previous Government. With regard to charter schools this Government's position on charter schools has been very clear from the beginning. And with regard to the NCEA we are listening to everyone with regard to the NCEA. I have spoken to some of the principals who have been signatories to that advertisement that appeared in the newspaper and they made it very clear to me their view to almost directly quote one of the principals who I spoke to that the principals should have been consulted first they should have come up with the recommendations the Government should have given them feedback on that and then the principals should have made the decision. The Government disagrees with that approach."