Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:4273] 
2.  
METIRIA TUREI (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Why does the Government provide $8 million in equity funding to some community-based early childhood education providers but not to privately-owned early childhood education providers? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 The purpose of equity funding is to compensate centres in areas of the highest need for the additional education requirements and the lower capacity for fund-raising in their communities. Funding is available only to community-based centres as the Government can then be sure that all the extra funding is spent on children and not used towards the profit of private individuals. In addition where funding is used to improve the assets of an early childhood service those assets belong to the community if the service closes. 
Metiria Turei 
: While I strongly agree with the Minister’s answer I must ask the Minister how he can justify the preferential funding of community-owned early childhood education when this is clearly in breach of New Zealand’s current General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitments made by the previous National Government. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is my understanding that it is not. 
Jill Pettis 
: What additional funding is available to support parents from low-income families whose children attend early childhood services including private centres? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The childcare subsidy provided through the Ministry of Social Development targets $55 million a year to parents in work with study to help them offset costs of education and care. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why does he not take the advice of his colleague John Tamihere who says that status policies are wrong and foolish and instead fund early childhood education on the basis of quality not on who owns the centre? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Because this Government cares about quality of service not about lining the pockets of individuals who want to take advantage of “Kentucky Fried Childcare”. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Can the Minister confirm that rate 2 non-profit community-based early childhood providers are being funded at a rate of $3.07 per child per hour while kindergartens are funded at a rate of $3.76 even though they teach the same curriculum operate under the same Desirable Objectives and Practices and may have equivalently qualified personnel; and does he believe this difference is fair? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: There is a differential. Probably the most important factor is around the qualifications of the staff and the payment that has been made for that. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Why does the Minister not just concede that he has an ideological prejudice against private providers and this Government cannot allow mums and dads to choose which early childhood centre they send their children to just like they choose their general practitioners? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I think the first part of the member’s question is accurate: I do have a preference for community-based childcare. 
Metiria Turei 
: Further to the Minister’s answer to my first supplementary question does the Minister not understand that our GATS commitments in private primary education services include early childhood and mean that we are required to treat foreign-owned corporate early childhood education providers exactly the same as locally owned community-owned providers? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Yes I do and no it does not. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am sorry to interrupt but we have a difficult situation down this end of the House. Several times through the questions that have been asked Mr Mark Peck has shouted out abuse. I am sure you have not heard it but in both cases it has interrupted the flow of the question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: When it gets to my attention the member will be leaving. 
Rodney Hide 
: Well I am bringing it to your attention. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well you have now and I will be listening very carefully. 
Metiria Turei 
: Will the Minister ensure that at Monday’s Cabinet GATS decision meeting that decision will give effect to his statement made at the Hui Taumata Matauranga just 2 weeks ago that the Government intends to pull back New Zealand’s commitments in education so that community-owned early childhood education providers can be protected from foreign pillage? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I stand by the statement I made at the Hui Taumata Matauranga and that is that this Government is involved in clarification of GATS commitments made by the previous Government to make it clear that both State and community education are protected.