8. Question No. 8—EducationNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 8—Education8. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Education: Does she agree with the Prime Minister who said in May 2018 that the average wait time for a child seeking an early intervention appointment was 74 days and in the life of a little 3- or 4-year-old child who's hungry to learn that's 74 days too long"; if so what is the average waiting time for a child seeking early intervention support today?Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education): As per my answer from 1 May this year when the member asked the same question yes. I also agree with the Prime Minister's press release on that same day that outlined that the context was that this was a four-year budget and a four-year reduction target which is why with more than two years to reach this target we are trialling new ways of delivering support. Currently the average waiting time to receive support from early intervention services has reduced to 103 days.Nicola Willis: Have average waiting times for early intervention support increased or decreased in the 18 months since the Prime Minister promised to halve them?SPEAKER: Order! The Minister just answered that question. I mean the member can answer if she likes but it was just answered.Nicola Willis: Can the Minister confirm that in the 18 months since the Prime Minister promised to halve early intervention waiting times those waiting times have instead increased?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: The last time I answered this question the answer I gave was that 106 days was the average waiting time at that time. Now the average waiting time is 103 days. I would note that there are certain areas around New Zealand where the waiting times have decreased and that is like the wait times in the Wellington region for example or the wait times in Tai Tokerau. So I'm answering the question to the best of my ability in this moment. Nicola Willis: Is the Minister aware that under the previous Government early intervention times reduced from an average of 94 days in 2013 to 71 days by 2017; if so why does she continue to blame the previous Government for her failures as Minister?SPEAKER: Order!Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: The member can answer the question but please—the member knows how to tighten up questions.Hon TRACEY MARTIN: In answer to that question I can confirm that between 2017 and 2018 which was the last year of the previous Government early intervention wait times had increased.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Minister confirm that in the 2016-17 financial year the wait time was 73.35 and by 2017-18 which would have been the last year the Budget was set by the then National Government the wait time had increased to 98.81?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Yes I can confirm that. I can also confirm that in the 2018-19 year there was an increase of children being seen by the early intervention services of another 3200 and this was a 4.8 percent increase of children being seen. The waiting lists have increased and it has taken us more time which is why we have two years to go to reach that target and we are changing the way that we are providing delivery services. Hence in some areas of New Zealand wait times have reduced. Nicola Willis: Will the Minister specify a date by which early intervention waiting times will be lower than they were when the Government came to office or does she think it will be sufficient to just keep blaming the previous Government?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: A date was given—not a specific date but a four-year period was given—in the statement that the member keeps referring to when she keeps asking this same question. I would have to say that the Ministry of Education did underestimate the incredible shortage of skilled individuals we needed in this area due to the lack of workforce planning by the previous Government. So I cannot rewrite history just to try and assuage the member's angst about the fact that the previous Government did not train and do the workforce planning required so that we would have the services to support these children. However we are changing the way that we deliver the service which is why we have reductions in wait times in certain parts of New Zealand.Hon Chris Hipkins: Can the Minister confirm that most of the specialist staff required to do this work require qualifications that take between three and four years to gain the qualification and this Government's only been in office for two?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: Yes I can."