Mahuta Nanaia: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mahuta Nanaia: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:677;Page:665] 
9. 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does she have confidence in her Ministry? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Yes but there is always room for improvement. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: When was she notified that a convicted sex offender had breached bail conditions and had been working in schools with young children? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: On Friday. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: When were parents notified that person A a convicted sex offender was before the courts in Auckland? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: Due to the court-imposed suppression order which was not varied until late on Friday the two affected schools were notified on Monday. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I seek leave to table a letter circulated to parents late—very late—on Monday 27 February detailing the arrest of a former teacher for breaching bail conditions but with no mention of the nature of the previous convictions. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Why did it take her ministry some days to properly communicate—fully communicate—with parents the risk—[ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Will the member please get on with her supplementary question. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: Why did it take the Minister some time to properly and fully communicate with parents the risk that their children faced and should they have to find out on the 6 o’clock news? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: As I just explained the court suppression order of all details related to person A was not varied until late on Friday after the school community had left. The letter was prepared with the detail that we were allowed to give under the suppression order on Monday and went home— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Well what happened to Saturday and Sunday? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: —with students at the end of school. Perhaps if the member was really interested in the idea he would show me the courtesy of listening. They went home at 3 o’clock on Monday afternoon.  
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I seek leave to table a letter from a parent which was sent to me on 28 February claiming that the Minister knew of this offence last week yet as late as last night no support or counselling services had been offered to children and parents where person A— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Leave is sought to table this document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: What immediate support from Monday 27 February was offered to children parents and staff; and did she ensure personally that that support was actually delivered? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: The traumatic incident teams made available by the Ministry of Education were available to the school from Monday. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I seek leave to table a document circulated as late as today at 11.31 a.m. offering support advice to parents for them to administer themselves from the ministry and Child Youth and Family.  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table—sorry the source of that document was? 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: An email. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: An email from? 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: A concerned parent. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: An email from a concerned parent. Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.