Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFlavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 08 May 2013. Volume:689;Page:9636. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) to theAssociate Minister of Education: Does he agree with Natasha Sadler from Ngāti Wai that the whānau-engagement aspect of Partnership Schools Kura Hourua provides an opportunity for improved educational outcomes for Māori children; if so has he heard this view from other Māori organisations about this policy?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education) on behalf of theAssociate Minister of Education: Yes I do agree with Ms Sadler and I have heard this view from numerous other Māori organisations. For example Te Maru o Ngā Kura ā-Iwi o Aotearoa submitted to the Education and Science Committee that “Kura Hourua … have the ultimate opportunity to create a model of excellence for those groups of learners the system has routinely failed and neglected.” and “Māori organisations will come in in big numbers as will Pasifika. And the reason is simple: they want to be architects of their own futures and destinies.”Te Ururoa Flavell: Could the Minister please provide some feedback that he has received from Māori submitters about the opportunities that partnership schools kura hourua offer for Māori students over and above what she has mentioned already?Hon HEKIA PARATA: There was significant feedback during the select committee process but also separately about the opportunities to have flexible hours to haveflexible programmes and to be able to use teachers who were not registered with teachers’ qualifications but who through their reo and tikanga have in the past added and will continue to add value to the educational opportunities of Māori students.Te Ururoa Flavell: What procedures will kura hourua partnership schools be expected to follow if a teacher is suspected of possible serious misconduct that has occurred either prior to or during their current course of employment?Hon HEKIA PARATA: As is the case with every other school in New Zealand sponsors will be responsible for providing a safe environment for pupils and staff. For any employees sponsors will be responsible for investigating and addressing suspected misconduct in accordance with the relevant employment health and safety legislation. If suspended misconduct relates to registered teachers then sponsors will also be required to follow the procedures in the Education Act 1989 relating to referral to the Teachers Council.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not want to interrupt the exchange so I waited until the end but it would be useful if the Minister who was answering the questions could clarify which Associate Ministers she was answering on behalf of because there are in fact three Associate Ministers of Education. She could have been answering on behalf of Dr Pita Sharples or John Banks and it would be useful for the House to know exactly whom she is answering on behalf of.Mr SPEAKER: That is over to the Minister. [Interruption] Order! It is over to the Minister to clarify. In my mind it was fairly clear that she was responding to that question on behalf of the Hon John Banks.