Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3865] 
12.  
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Has he received any reports that there has been an upsurge in students providing false or temporary addresses in order to gain enrolment at a school of their choice? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education)) 
  
on behalf of the 
 Minister of Education 
: I have heard of anecdotal reports from individual schools advising that they feel people are cheating to get into their school zones. I have received fewer complaints this year than last year. There is no firm evidence on the extent of the problem but we have agreed to amend the guidelines to give greater advice and guidance to boards about the actions that they can take against parents or caregivers who are trying to manipulate the system. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Is it not true that this phenomenon which robs genuine New Zealand students of placement in their preferred school is caused not by his zoning regulations but by this Government’s immigration policies? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The member raises an interesting point from the point of view of education. That is why where particular problems have been raised the Ministry of Education is working with schools to ensure that they match their obligations under the enrolment legislation and manage the issues that are raised by having Asian students who may have second-language problems in their schools. 
Mark Peck 
: What is the Government doing to stop this possible cheating? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The Education Standards Act of 2001 gives schools the ability to take action against people who are discovered to have indulged in that practice. This week the Secretary for Education has approved amended guidelines to assist schools in detecting false and misleading information that is given to them at the time of an application for enrolment. Those guidelines are in the process of being posted to schools and will also be on the ministry’s website. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Why would the Government take a hard line on parents who give misinformation about addresses that they subsequently disown when it is OK for the Prime Minister to have made a commitment 2 years ago and now to break it? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Ignoring the last part of the question because it will just invite me to cause disorder with Mr Smith once again with regard to the first part of the question the Government does take a hard line on these issues. That is why we have reissued the guidelines and I imagine the member will look forward to reading them. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Can the Minister explain to the House why this Government wants to force children from poor areas to attend failing schools and leave wealthier parents free to choose a school; does not the zoning scheme mean school choice by mortgage capacity? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The issue of how children get into schools of course has always been a vexed one. But this Government believes that children have the right to attend their local school. That is why we have gone for the policy we have gone for and we believe it is the right one.