Davis Kelvin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Davis Kelvin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:662;Page:10613] 
8. 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Education 
: Did he agree to the decision to give seven new wharekura base funding of $50000 compared to the $130000 base funding that a composite school with fewer than 250 students would normally be entitled to? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
 on behalf of the  
Associate Minister of Education 
: No. The Associate Minister of Education agreed to the decision and I read from the document tabled yesterday entitled  
Education Report: Change of Class Applications 
: “Base funding of $50000 plus $2000 per student compared to $130000 base funding that a composite school with fewer than 250 students would be entitled to.” 
Kelvin Davis 
: Why would he accept a lower level of operational funding for these Maori language schools than the funding received by comparable English medium-sized schools? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Because it is not. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: How can he justify supporting the signing off of a kura in Northland on the basis of its getting $206000 when other kura of exactly the same size are this year getting $451582? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I think that it is important to realise that these seven wharekura that have now been approved have waited for over 10 years under the previous Labour Government for their approval to be given. In less than 18 months this Government with the help of the Maori Party has approved all seven applications put in place some interim funding and involved the wharekura themselves in the development of a new policy that is based on their needs and their students rather than on the ticking of some formula boxes. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a very clear point of order. We have had a reply first of all from the Minister saying that the schools are not being funded less. She was asked to comment on the specific figures for that school compared with wharekura of the same size. She did not justify that. It was a simple question: how does she justify the change in figures? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I hear the member’s point of order and I have to acknowledge that it is not an unreasonable point of order because the member in answering went on to talk about the length of time schools have been waiting to be approved and what have you which did not actually bear any relationship to the specific question asked. Maybe the Minister on the basis of the primary question does not have information on that particular case but I think she should at least either answer the question or tell the House that she does not have that particular information. But it seemed to me that the Minister avoided the question totally. 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: In the latter part of my answer I explained that the arrangement is an interim funding arrangement for all those small wharekura while they are involved fully in consultation about developing a funding policy for those wharekura. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Let me just clarify because I allowed the Minister to do that. She is telling me that she answered the question. Does that mean she was confirming Mr Mallard’s question? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: This is an interim funding solution for seven wharekura that have been waiting more than 10 years for a decision. This is an interim funding solution. 
Kelvin Davis 
: When he read the part of the Ministry of Education’s briefing on these new wharekura which says: “We will provide you with advice in later 2010 on a new resourcing methodology for small composite schools. This may include reducing the staffing and operational funding entitlements for very small schools.” did it occur to him that the very small schools that the ministry intends cutting staffing and funding for will include many wharekura? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: These wharekura have roll expectations of between 40 and 90 students at the absolute maximum. It is inappropriate to be resourcing them based on a minimum formula that is tied to a roll of 250 students which these wharekura do not want to achieve. We have agreed with these wharekura to work through with them in this year to develop a new funding model that suits their needs and the needs of their communities. I know that comes as news to the Opposition party because it likes to work on tick-box and policy formulas. But we are focused on student learning outcomes. 
Kelvin Davis 
: Will he use his position as the Minister responsible for all matters relating to kaupapa Maori education to guarantee no further funding cuts for Maori language schools; if not why not? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: It is important to note that these are not funding cuts. These kura received no money no funds from the previous Government. This Government along with the support of the Maori Party is funding them for their secondary school students to develop into a wharekura. There are no funding cuts. I can assure that member that the schools have been fully consulted and they are delighted. In fact the Associate Minister has received an email saying that awesome things are happening. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I did not want to interrupt the Minister because I believed the treatment of her was sufficiently unfair for me not to add to the difficulties by interrupting. I ask the Hon Trevor Mallard to rise to his feet and withdraw and apologise for his allegation. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Kelvin Davis 
: Has he come across a single kura or indeed any school that says it receives more operational funding than it needs; if not how does he expect these new wharekura to provide quality education with this much lower level of funding? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I refer the member to the actual words in the document that was tabled yesterday. In fact many of those kura could end up with more than $130000 base funding depending on how many students they have. The interim funding solution gives them their staffing entitlement it gives them their per-pupil funding and it gives them base funding of $50000 plus $2000 per secondary student. I refer the member back to the document which he should read properly.