Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 29 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2569. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement that “building a more productive economy” is a priority for his Government given that productivity has declined in 2 out of 3 years since he came to office and the Budget forecasts no improvement this year? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes. Building a more productive and competitive economy is one of the Government’s four priorities and I would point out to the member that the Budget forecasts labour productivity growth of plus 0.6 percent in the year to June 2012 plus 2 percent in the year to 2013 plus 1.9 percent in the year to 2014 and plus 1.6 percent in the year to 2015. That represents a solid pick-up in productivity. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does the Prime Minister agree that investment in education is crucial to building a more productive economy? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes and that is why the Government is investing $512 million extra over the next 4 years. But what I also believe very strongly is that having had a country that has employed 12.5 percent more teachers over the last decade at a time when the roll growth has been only 2.5 percent and when the education outcomes have plateaued it is time for this country to start focusing on teacher quality and the quality of teaching not just the sheer number of teachers.  
Dr Russel Norman 
: How does his decision to eliminate dedicated funding for technology teachers at intermediate level help to build a more productive economy? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: We do not and if the member wants to check his BlackBerry before he comes to the House he will see press releases. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: When he made the decision to change schools’ staffing ratios as part of the Budget was he aware at that point of the effect on technology teaching at intermediate level? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes and that is why the ministry took the liberty of writing to all schools in New Zealand. To the 90 percent that gained or lost one full-time teacher equivalent that was pointed out to them. To the 10 percent that did not the ministry not only wrote to them but made it clear to them we would be working on the transition plans. We are working on those transition plans with a working group but to allay any fears that may be whipped up by those who simply want to use this for political reasons we have indicated that the maximum reduction could be two full-time teacher equivalents over a 3-year period. It is also worth pointing out that there are significant changes in roll numbers in many New Zealand schools and that in any one given year 5000 teachers come or go from schools. There is a major change so in that regard two full-time teacher equivalents over 3 years will not be a significant number. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does he agree with John Key then Leader of the Opposition who on 28 September 2008 said: “Let me make this absolutely clear. Under National the number of … teachers … will grow.”; if so how does his Budget cap on the number of teachers fit with this commitment? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: It has grown in the 3½ years that I have been Prime Minister and I am thrilled that the member reads everything that I say. 
David Shearer 
: Having looked at my BlackBerry on the way to Parliament will he now admit that the changes they announced in the Budget were wrong and he now needs to claw back money in order to cover the technology teachers? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No they are not wrong. [ 
Interruption 
] It may not be convenient but they are not wrong. The ministry has a contingency and will be making sure that the professional development that we want is funded but there will be changes to the ratios with limited impact on New Zealand schools. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How does his Government’s decision to discourage people from becoming teachers by requiring them to get postgraduate qualifications while simultaneously removing student allowances for postgraduate study help to build a more productive economy? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I reject the proposition from the member. We are not discouraging people from doing postgraduate studies. What we are saying is that we think the appropriate mechanism is a student loan at zero percent interest not an allowance. Actually the economic implication of somebody getting a postgraduate degree either a master’s degree or a PhD is heavily supported by the fact that they will get significantly higher levels of income than others and therefore funding that through a zero percent student loan where the Government still writes off 40c in the dollar in my book is still quite generous. 
Grant Robertson 
: Given that last answer from the Prime Minister can he tell the House what the difference is between the maximum amount that a student can borrow for living costs under the student loan each week and the actual student allowance that people can get—what is the difference between those two amounts? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am advised that it is very similar. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Given that 2700 teachers emigrated from New Zealand last year how does driving away ambitious educators help build a more productive economy or was the more productive economy he promised to build actually the Australian economy? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I cannot confirm that 2700 teachers emigrated; they may or may not have. But the member will be absolutely thrilled and relieved to note that we welcome people from all parts of the world including Australia. 
Grant Robertson 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! A point of order has been called. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! Order! 
Grant Robertson 
: I seek leave of the House to table a document from StudyLink that outlines the various rates that can be obtained from a student loan weekly— 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: Where did it come from? 
Grant Robertson 
: From StudyLink. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: Where did it come from? 
Grant Robertson 
: Is this a point of order or not? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is a point of order and there will not be interjection. 
Grant Robertson 
: It says that the maximum amount of money that a student can borrow per week for living costs from the student loan scheme is $171.50 and that the maximum amount that they can get from student allowances is over $350 a week. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document—[ 
Interruption 
] Order! We will not have that rush of blood to the head. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon David Parker 
: Why did he say 2 days before the Budget that “under a National Government exports are rising.” and in his Budget speech last Thursday that “We have got the export sector starting to grow.” when Statistics New Zealand earlier that day reported a 17 percent—$800 million—drop in goods exported from New Zealand in the year to April 2012? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Because the member is quoting a 1-month number and I am looking over a 3 or 4-year period. 
Hon David Parker 
: How can he pretend our export story is a good one when imports are projected to increase at twice the rate of exports and before he blames Christchurch is he aware that of the 6.8 percent current account deficit projected for 2016 Treasury has advised that only 1 percent relates to Christchurch? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am advised that it is Christchurch that is a major part of it. 
Hon David Parker 
: Does he agree with commentator Fran O’Sullivan in the  
New Zealand Herald 
 that the major problem is that there is no clear economic growth agenda? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No. 
David Shearer 
: Can the Prime Minister reassure the intermediate schools Fergusson Intermediate School Balmoral Intermediate School Papatoetoe Intermediate School and Manurewa Intermediate School that those schools will not be losing between 3.5 and seven teachers each as a result of the Budget announcement? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This is a very detailed question about teachers which relates more to question No. 2 than question No. 3. I accept there has been some discussion. If the right honourable Prime Minister has the information he is certainly welcome to answer the question but I think the House should understand if he does not have that particular information. 
David Shearer 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This question was referring to what the Prime Minister said about reading our BlackBerry smartphones on the way to the Chamber today which was that the ratios at intermediate schools had actually changed. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! A point of order is— 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: It’s not to do with this. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Leader of the House above all others should know that a point of order should be heard in silence—silence. I believe that comment did relate to the previous primary question question No. 2 and that is why I— 
Hon Members 
: No. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well I accept that and I will stand corrected if I am wrong there. I will invite the member because so much time has gone by to repeat his question but I accept that the Prime Minister may not have information necessary to answer that question because it is a long way from this primary question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If the Prime Minister cannot answer the question or does not have the information then it should be left to him to tell us that not to run tackle defending him before he gets to his feet. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! That is very simple then. If that is the way the House wants it I will simply rule the question out. But I am going to give the member the chance to— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: That’s not question time. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! It is my opinion as Speaker and I am prepared to rule that the question does not relate sufficiently to the primary question. I am not going to waste more time on it but I am prepared to allow the member to repeat his question. But there does need to be some understanding that the Prime Minister may not have the necessary information to answer it. 
David Shearer 
: Referring to the comment that the Prime Minister made about reading our BlackBerry smartphones on the way to the House can he reassure the intermediate schools across New Zealand that they will not be losing up to seven teachers in the technology area? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I can assure them that over a 3-year period they will not lose more than a maximum of two fulltime-equivalents.