Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Sitting date: 20 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8019. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does she stand by all her decisions in relation to schools in Christchurch? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. I stand by all my interim decisions in relation to schools in Christchurch and I remain open to the views of the schools subject to further consultation. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did she or her officials give Branston Intermediate School an assurance that any students enrolled for 2013 would be able to finish their 2 years at Branston Intermediate School before any closure? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: We provided proposals to Branston Intermediate School giving it options and those have been reaffirmed in the letter it received from me this week. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very specific question and the Minister’s answer did not address the question I asked. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Will the member please repeat the question for the benefit of the Minister. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did she or her officials give Branston Intermediate School an assurance that any students enrolled for 2013 would be able to finish their 2 years at Branston Intermediate School before any closure? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: I did not. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did she write to Branston Intermediate School on 28 September stating that she had made “a proposal about the closure of Branston Intermediate School to be implemented for the end of 2014.” and did she tell a public meeting at Branston Intermediate School that the school would definitely be open in 2014 as parents have written in to say she said; if so why is she now changing that proposal so that students who have only just started school this year will have to change school next year? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: I did provide Branston Intermediate School with a proposal and in the meeting with the Branston community I repeatedly said it was a proposal and that they were free to make submissions on it as indeed they can on the proposal they now have. 
Chris Hipkins 
: At the public meeting with Branston Intermediate School did she give them an assurance that Branston Intermediate School would still be open in 2014? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: I made it clear repeatedly that it was a proposal and that they had the opportunity to give a submission on that proposal. I got their submission and they now have a further opportunity. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister has indicated some other things that she said to the parents at Branston Intermediate School; she has not indicated whether she gave them that assurance. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well I took it from her answer that she was talking of a proposal when she went to that public meeting at Branston Intermediate School. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not ask about the proposal she presented. I asked whether she had given them an assurance that they would stay open in 2014. She has not addressed that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well I think she has actually. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I do not need help from the Hon Annette King on this. What she said as I took it from her answer was that she was talking of a proposal that had been put to the school rather than an assurance under all circumstances and that when those proposals were finally concluded there was no guarantee given that they would be able to continue beyond 2013. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I put it to you that you are the only person in the House who interpreted it that way. It was a very straight direct question: was an assurance given or not. We do not know what the answer is. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well I have attempted to explain it to the member because I think I know exactly what the answer is. The answer was that the assurance was not given that at that stage they were talking of a proposal to that school— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The problem we have with that is that if the Minister gave it it would be a breach of privilege because she knows she was wrong. But because you have interpreted it that way which we know is not in accordance with the facts then you are effectively getting her off the hook for not answering the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No and I am certainly not attempting to get any Minister off the hook. Quite the opposite—I want Ministers to answer questions as clearly and concisely as I can. The difficulty we are getting into is that there is now a regular habit particularly from Opposition members of firstly demanding that the question be answered to satisfy them. My job is not to design the answer to the satisfaction of the Opposition. My job is to make sure that the question is answered to the best of that Minister’s ability. I cannot then be further responsible but in further question time any member can delve into the answers that have been given by that Minister. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If it is a fresh point of order I am happy to take it. 
Chris Hipkins 
: It is a fresh point of order Mr Speaker. If subsequently we can produce evidence that suggests that what you have indicated to the House the Minister’s answer was incorrect and that she misled the House will you consider a breach of privilege complaint based on your interpretation of her answer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: We certainly do not consider breach of privilege complaints on the floor of this House. Any member has the ability to write to the Speaker alleging a breach of privilege and that will be considered. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: The member of the House who objected during question No. 10 to the tabling of this document wanted an assurance that they had given permission for their details to be made public and they have. Therefore I seek the leave of the House to table the email from Rebecca McLean to Phil Twyford. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for the tabling of that. Is there any objection to it? There is objection. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I seek leave to table a letter dated 28 September 2012 from Hekia Parata to the board of trustees of Branston Intermediate School indicating that they would be closed at the end of 2014. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that letter to the school. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I seek leave to table a letter from the principal of Branston Intermediate School dated 14 September 2012— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Addressed to whom? 
Chris Hipkins 
: It is addressed to parents and caregivers indicating that the school had received an assurance that they would be— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! That is satisfactorily explained. Leave is sought to table that letter. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Chris Hipkins 
: I seek leave to table an email from a parent at Branston Intermediate School stating that the Minister had given them an assurance at the public meeting— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that email. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.