Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Pillay Lynne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:625;Page:20366] 
9.  
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Education 
: What steps has the Government taken to reduce student absenteeism in New Zealand schools? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Associate Minister of Education) 
: 
 I can advise the House that the Government has introduced a number of successful initiatives to reduce truancy suspensions stand-downs and early exemptions in schools. On Friday I was given a presentation at Tauranga Boys College about its very successful suspension reduction initiative programme which has resulted in a significant reduction in suspensions. Yesterday I visited Porirua College. Its suspension reduction initiative has reduced suspensions and stand-downs to zero. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What other reports has the Minister seen on absenteeism? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I saw a report on Saturday in the  
Southland Times  
about a youth forum organised at Southland Girls High School where 400 students were expected. Sadly only four students turned up. In the words of the  
Southland Times 
 “National Party leader Don Brash will be hoping for a better voter turnout …”. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Why is the associate minister threatening to prosecute parents who are sending their children to Orauta School where the children are receiving a schooling whilst at the same time he says that nothing can be done about the three families at Mokau whose children are receiving no schooling at all? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Such situations as the two mentioned are clearly not in the best interests of the students concerned. The reason there are prosecutions proceeding at Orauta is that the statutory checks and controls on that situation cannot be exercised. However that situation is much less serious than the Leader of the Opposition visiting such places and endorsing such breaches. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Can the Minister confirm from his investigations of the reasons for absenteeism whether the reason that the 396 students were missing was that the forum was organised by Bill English? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I am not sure what responsibility the Minister has for that. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. We are talking about students who were missing from a school forum. There were 400 due. Four turned up 396 were missing and the forum was for Don Brash. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I do not know where the ministerial responsibility is for that. 
Bernie Ogilvy 
: When does the Minister expect a national student database to be fully operational in light of the fact that the Minister of Education has promised that for the past three elections—in 1996 1999 and 2002? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I anticipate that the electronic student tracking system which will be of immense value to schools—particularly in enrolment and transfer situations—will be available from the beginning of the next school year. I seek leave to table an article from page A2 of the  
Southland Times 
 of last Saturday titled “Forum attracts four”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I heard several interruptions from Mr Brownlee and others during my seeking of leave. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes the member did. I could not identify who interrupted. The rules have to be applied across the board fairly. Who interrupted that seeking of leave? 
Hon Damien O'Connor 
: I confess I may have made some sound. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Well the member will leave the Chamber. 
Hon Damien O'Connor withdrew from the Chamber. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I was speaking to a colleague behind me but if that interrupted Mr Benson-Pope I am happy to leave. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member will leave the Chamber too please. 
Gerry Brownlee withdrew from the Chamber. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Members will settle please.