Banks John: Debate On Pacific IssuesText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBanks John: Debate On Pacific Issues[Sitting date: 18 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9579. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon JOHN BANKS (Leader—ACT): Much of this debate has been about New Zealand’s relationship with our Pacific neighbours and so it should have been. The ACT Party acknowledges the importance of these relationships. We celebrate the contribution that Pasifika communities have made to New Zealand. They have enriched our society and added to our cultural vibrancy. As Mayor of Auckland for two terms I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know and respecting greatly the Pacific community of that wonderful multicultural city from where I hail.In my contribution I want to focus on the obligation we have to our Pacific neighbours and our Pacific families in our local communities and across this country—in particular in the education system. Every New Zealand child deserves a world-class education. There is not much more we can give a young child than unconditional love in the home and the family and a world-class education and I know that Pacific families are signed up to that proposition. We have much to do to make this a reality for all our young people.So first the good news is Pasifika education outcomes have improved in all parts of the education system across this country. The latest data shows that the number of 2-year-old to 4-year-old Pasifika enrolments in early childhood education increased by 15.5 percent between 2009 and 2011. The proportion of all Pasifika learners achieving National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 2 qualifications or equivalent increased from 55 percent in 2009 to 63 percent in 2011. Pasifika learner take-up of the Youth Guarantee initiative was 20 percent of all young people participating. Pasifika learners with New Zealand Qualifications Framework level 5 qualification increased from 18 percent to 28 percent in 2011. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of this National-led Government and in particular the Minister of Education for her efforts in raising achievement for Pasifika learners. She is committed to that cause. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of our teachers and the wider Pasifika community for their efforts in helping to raise learner achievements amongst Pasifika kids.Now for the bad news: despite all these improvements significant challenges remain. Although New Zealand performs well on the average in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment study we rate poorly on equity. We are 24th in the world equal with the US. If we were to take the results for Pasifika on their own we would be 35th in the world. Although Pasifika participation in early childhood educationhas increased it is still the lowest for all population groups. Significant disparities remain evidenced in literacy and numeracy achievements. Disparity in achievement levels for Pasifika students are significant at the NCEA level and widen further at the higher qualification level. There is much work to be done and we need to embrace this challenge.There is a wonderful saying that high tides rise all boats. We know that when Pasifika communities are doing well then the education system in this country is going to do even better. We know that when Pasifika kids do well in Auckland Pasifika kids are going to do well across the nation and when they are doing well across the nation the high tide will lift the boats across the Pacific countries that you represent.Can I turn to further good news. Partnership schools are coming and they can innovate. We have had very good interest from Pasifika groups around partnership schools. They can focus on creating a learning environment where every Pasifika child learns to succeed. They can employ teaching staff who understand and embrace cultural difference and cultural difference is critical to this multicultural society. In short they can make a real difference to Pasifika learners. I would like to thank the partnership schools working group and in particular Dr Margaret Southwick a significant Pasifika educationalist for her great contribution in this policy design. This Government is absolutely committed to accelerating achievement for Pasifika learners through the partnership schools initiative and the Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017. I am absolutely committed to making sure that every young child including—