Local Bodies: Teaching Profession Rejects Parata’s Plans

Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, June 11th, 2014 - 78 comments
Categories: education, greens, national, same old national, schools - Tags:

A repost from Local Bodies about Hekia Parata attempting to sneak some fake ‘consultation’ on the changes to the way that schools are run. bsprout is both a teacher and list candidate for the Greens.

Classroom teachers, the New Zealand Educational Institute, the New Zealand Principal’s Federation and education academics have all strongly rejected the Government’s proposed $359 million Investment into Education Success (IES). All believe that this substantial amount of money will not produce the results that the Education Minister claims and would be better spent elsewhere.

At a recent meeting of primary classroom teachers in Invercargill, one teacher was particularly upset. She had shifted to New Zealand to escape the failing English schooling system only to find the same changes are about to be implemented here.

Respected US academic David Berliner happened to be in New Zealand when the Prime Minister first announced the new spending and he strongly rejected the claim that teachers make the biggest difference to child achievement. He claimed that the socio-economic background of the child has the largest influence on education outcomes (according to all research) and he accused our Prime Minister of lying for stating otherwise.

Prof Martin Thrupp has made a number of useful points in a recent article on the IES. He voices concern at the lack of media engagement with these major changes to school management and questions the evidence for them. Few New Zealand academics have been consulted despite the fact we are internationally regarded for our education research and any changes should be based on our own contexts. Prof Thrupp is concerned that the government is using a management centered approach to lifting children’s achievement rather than a child centered one and we are losing the professional culture that made our education system so successful in the past.

NZEI has listed a number of alternatives where the funding would be better used. Rather than removing successful principals and teachers from their schools and classrooms for several days a week NZEI suggests the funding would provide better outcomes if we:

  • Increased funding for our Special Education Service so that 20,000 more kids could get specialist support.
  • Worked towards having 100% of our early childhood teachers being qualified and registered.
  • Reduced class sizes so that all children can benefit from more individualized learning.
  • Provide sustainable funding for teacher aids so that children and teachers can get consistent support.
One would think that primary principals would welcome the opportunity to earn $50,000 more on top of their current salary as one of the new ‘Executive’ Principals, and yet they have solidly rejected the concept. They cannot see how they could do the job of leading their own school well if they are removed from it for several days a week.
Education Minister Hekia Parata has been less than convincing when attempting to justify a corporate styled model of education management. Although she continuously talks about the importance of collaboration in the sector, her understanding of what that would mean is quite different from the profession’s view. She talks about data and achievement outcomes and doesn’t refer once to the real needs of struggling children. It is also interesting that she claims to be working positively with NZEI and the NZPF and yet neither has supported the outcomes.
Parata claimed that they had been working on the changes for a year, but the profession only became aware of them when they were announced in January and any consultation has only occurred over the past few months. In reality the IES has been presented as a fait accompli and full consultation and discussion with the wider profession has been deliberately limited by the tight time frame. National Standards were implemented without a trial and without the support of the profession and after five years they are still problematic, these new comprehensive changes are being introduced in the same flawed way.
The Green Party has taken a different and cheaper route to lifting the achievement of struggling children. Over 80% of our children are actually doing well in the current system and far more could be achieved if we addressed the real barriers to learning for our most disadvantaged children; ill health, poor housing and struggling families. Health and welfare hubs are already working well in some schools and, as a proven model, it makes sense to establish them in all low decile schools. The Green Party believe in targeting funding and support rather than inflicting the entire system with a corporate model that has failed elsewhere.

78 comments on “Local Bodies: Teaching Profession Rejects Parata’s Plans ”

  1. Tracey 1

    a friend of mine is in the running for one of the newly created senior expert teacher roles created by perata.

    An extra 5400 per annum but extra workload too. Heres the thing. My friend has experienced a huge increase in workload and paperwork in tge last 5 years.it is a drainging job requiring non stop contact for most of the day, even toilet breaks can only be at morning, lunch and afternoon schedules. Teachers are also exposed to all kinds of health issues.

    After 25 years in the job, working day starts at 730am, and between duties and meetings doesnt finish til 5pm most days and later on others. Half a weekend day is spent on paperwork, clocking up 60 hour weeks.

    The new pay and role is extra money and extra work.

    Kicker. Friend is appkying for non teaching roles in education for less money. Friend is a fantastic teacher, hence is in running for one of these new positions. Not alone, my friend says many colleagues have already left.

    Within the profession there is a strong desire to improve teaching standards BUT under this government we head toward a self fulfilling prophesy. Premised on the basis that most teachers are lazy andcuseless tgeir non teaching workloads have risen driving experienced capabke teachers out of schools redulting in young inexperienced teachers, probably resulting in poor teaching standards.

    I am no mallard fan, but he had the profession, students and schools heading in a quality direction. National have undone this in less than 5 years.

    • In Vino 1.1

      I am semi-retired secondary teacher. Sorry to disappoint, but my view is that Mallard already had us going in that direction, only not so fast. He threw out bulk funding of teachers’ salaries, but left bulk funding in place for operations grants – equally important. He squeezed teachers and schools pretty well as hard as National do. No fond memories.

      • Tracey 1.1.1

        he didnt have ns… he was turning illiteracy around and a new curriculum ready to go… well not him but tge ministry.

        so, you havent disappointed me.

        how are you finding nat standard paperwork

        • In Vino 1.1.1.1

          I am secondary – and it was Achievement Standard (NCEA) paperwork that made me decide to bow out. Huge increase in bumph, but no overall gain for students. Some gained, others lost..

          • Naturesong 1.1.1.1.1

            History of NCEA, and it’s development.
            While it was National that passed the legislation, and most of the blame can be attributed to them, they weren’t alone.

            If you are after an example of real damage inflicted upon the New Zealand education system by a Labour government, Tomorrow’s Schools is the example you would use.

            Here’s the NZCER page that shows the timeline with references to appropriate surveys of tomorrows schools and other reforms made during the 90’s

  2. ghostwhowalksnz 2

    After the election will come the news about how they will pay for higher salaries for the few teachers, they will cut the automatic salary steps for everyone else

    • Tracey 2.1

      for the teachers in line to get the higher salary, its for additional work, not an increase in pay per se. So for 10 more hours work a week in an already over worked week a teacher gets 5400 more a year. Thats about 10 bucks an hour. Although they say the teacher will be given less class time to be the mentor for other teachers plus paperwork… It will be more work. But how does this reward the great teachers who want to be in the classroom.

  3. adam 3

    Is it just me – or when John Key lies, our media fawn over him more. This announcement as a good case in point.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1

      Stockholm syndrome. Or cowardice and betrayal.

    • dimebag russell 3.2

      you are correct. the media here when it isn’t in attack mode for the tory masters is a servile, baseless mob of poltroons and sychophants all trying to kiss arse just in case the JOB at parliament comes up!

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4

    The best responses to these coordinated attacks on children (aka Oravida Party education policies) are criminal charges and asset forfeiture.

    Smash Tory scum. Replace the kid gloves with a mailed fist.

  5. john 5

    What a total stuff up from the position of the Primary Principals Federation.

    On Nat Radio today the head of the PPF said their position would be democratic, and they would have to poll their members BEFORE they took a stance on the issue.

    Then he told us the PPF was strongly against the new plan. It was earlier FOR the plan.

    The bit about being democratic and polling the members was obviously a lie. The decision has been predetermined by someone pulling strings.

    Meanwhile the Secondary Principals are strongly FOR the plan, and are highly frustrated at the primary unions playing petty politics.

  6. Jrobin 6

    Why don’t they just spend the money on smaller classes, more teacher aides and get rid of charter schools and national standards
    We had a great system until the National Party got hold of it.
    Simple.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1

      I’ll vote for that if it also includes asset confiscation for scab school perpetrators. Education is too important for there to be no punitive action taken. The system must be Tory-proof.

  7. kiwigunner 7

    We have not been consulted about this policy – despite what Parata says. It is important that teachers and principals and Boards are consulted? Well I ask anyone to consider how they would feel about their job should the boss simply change how things work when they know that it is dumb and will affect their clients.

    It’s taken a while but opposition is hard because nothing is shared or discussed. In this case consultation has meant a change in the names of the roles!

    Folk may not know it but Special Education has no money for kids with behavior problems or special learning needs. In the Far North there are no specialist teachers for things like autism, or speech therapists. Teacher aids are on term to term contracts and most on minimum wage.

    What $358m could do for thee things! But instead this government wants a few principals an teachers to get a new car!

    There is an end game – privatization of education and quality education for some and we all know who..

    • millsy 7.1

      “Teacher aids are on term to term contracts and most on minimum wage.”

      Ideally TA’s and the like should be employed by the Ministry of Education and be posted to whichever school requires their services – (perhap even following the student who needs them).

  8. fisiani 8

    bsprout a teacher and Greens candidate says it all. The teacher unions are the bastions of Far Left Labour and have to be reminded that they are public servants and have to do what they are told. Their job is to serve. The vast majority of teachers are reasonable people and pleased with the government reforms. They want educational excellence. They also are pleased with National standards. If the union Mafia bosses don’t like it they can always leave – but they won’t. They will try to defy the government again but will fail again as they did with all the educational reforms of the last six years. They will oppose the next logical step -performance pay. They will insist on one size fits all. The best rugby players get paid more so do the best shearers and so do the best sailors. Bring on a clearout of the union thugs.

    • redfred 8.1

      What a sad fool…. I can’t even be bothered, bring something real and I’ll respond

    • Dan1 8.2

      Fis, if national standards are so good, how come private schools and charter schools do not have to do them?
      The insanity is they are neither national nor standard, and have nothing to do with excellence.
      If you are talking about union mafia bosses you completely show your ignorance of the teaching fraternity. Association membership is completely voluntary, and getting teachers to follow a directive is like herding cats. The term “union thugs” confirms my suspicion you are talking to your typewriter and repeating lines out of Thatcher Britain.
      A number of my staff friends vote blue. The issue that will change their vote this year is the incompetent minister, and the constant putdowns of education by the NACT party.

      • fisiani 8.2.1

        Which part of private and partnership (to use the correct term) do you not understand? The government does not rule these schools. Your staff friends (ie another Lefty teacher) will NOT change their votes. They will continue to choose the Brighter Future.

        • framu 8.2.1.1

          “partnership (to use the correct term)”

          no – charter is the correct term. The govt openly admitted they changed it to partnership because of the negativity associated with the word charter

          if a call a VW a prosche – its still a VW isnt it

      • john 8.2.2

        Teachers at our local school are very happy with National Standards. They’re almost identical to what they were already doing.

        However they’re under no illusion from the union that they never speak publicly out in support of them.

        We had parents and small children forced to leave school at 3pm between two lines of chanting unionists when the standards came in – it was absolutely disgusting and intimidating behavior from the unions.

        • felix 8.2.2.1

          How dare those workers express a view. Disgraceful peasants don’t know their place.

          • john 8.2.2.1.1

            Yeah – intimidating little children in the school yard is so ethical an so brave.

            • felix 8.2.2.1.1.1

              Good thing that didn’t happen then.

              • john

                Yet another making a statement from the point of total and complete ignorance.

                Must be bliss.

                • felix

                  Nope, commenting from reason.

                  You’re asking me to believe that a group of teachers got together and publicly intimidated “little children” to make a political point.

                  My reasoning is that this would not only have been front-page news, but we would never have heard the end of it.

                  ergo it didn’t happen, as the only report is from a long-time blog commenter who recently changed his handle to john.

                  • john

                    And just to prove that you base conclusions on total ignorance, you come up with the theory that if something isn’t on the front page, it can’t have happened.

                    • felix

                      Nope, that wasn’t what I said at all.

                      I said if a group of teachers got together to publicly intimidate little children to make a political point, it’d be front-page.

                      How did you not follow that the first time I typed it?

                    • john

                      It was bad enough for several parents to complain to the school.

                      None of those in union vests were teachers at the school, so I’m not sure who they were, but one was a the local Labour MP.

                      It wasn’t front page, but it did happen, so while you base your assumptions on 100% ignorance, you continue to be 100% wrong.

                    • felix

                      Did that happen before or after Helen Clark drove at “500km/h” ?

                      And now your story has a Labour MP “intimidating little children”, but it’s still not newsworthy.

                      Yeah nah john. 🙄

            • geoff 8.2.2.1.1.2

              Yeah unions are evil eh, john. and pot smokers too.
              pot smoking unionists intimidating Colorado chidlren to smoke dope are the worstest though ay.

              • john

                Unions that support their members are fine.

                But too many put more effort and members funds into pushing issues for political reasons – not for the best interests of the paying members they are supposed to represent.

                • geoff

                  Examples?

                  • john

                    When the CTU stuffed up so badly over the Hobbit that thousands of workers came out and marched AGAINST the union.

                    Where else has that happened anywhere in the world?

                    • geoff

                      Oh you want to start that one up again on the standard again eh.

                      I’ll merely say that I strongly disagree with your characterisation of that particular situation.

                    • framu

                      despite the historical bullshit your spouting – theres a simple logic test here

                      you made a case that ‘some’ unions dont support their members and engage in politics – then used the hobbit case, and especially the march that richard taylor instigated (even when he and weta knew the issue had been resolved) as some sort of proof against the CTU.

                      Now – can you show that any of those who marched were members of the CTU?

                      if you cant – and i know you cant – i expect a retraction and apologuy

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      There are plenty of examples of non-unionised workers being incited to anti-union sentiment, and often violence, by employers lying to them, from all over the world.

                      Either John is a credulous dupe for believing these lies, or is deliberately spreading them for political purposes.

                      We need better wingnuts.

                • framu

                  how the fuck do you know that john – going by your comments here you hate unions – yet seem to have intimate insider knowledge of what was discussed and how the votes went

                  could it be your basing your opinion on the opinions of other people who also dont have a clue what they are on about?

                  you really do know how to dig a deep hole – whats that? – why a load oh shovels! – want one?

        • Tracey 8.2.2.2

          “almost identical” to what they were already doing… so a waste of money and a lie to boot from nact.

          • john 8.2.2.2.1

            You take a school you know nothing about, doing assessments you know nothing about, and say they can’t have been doing that.

            Your view is based on what? Your utter and complete ignorance?????

            • Tracey 8.2.2.2.1.1

              I quoted you john. if you dont like what you said, take it up with….

              you

              you said your local school was already doing ns type stuff before ns…. so they didnt need ns… so nats wasted money making them and lied that they were needed. hope you understand now

            • framu 8.2.2.2.1.2

              john – is it possible for people who are parents, but not education professionals, to get things wrong in regards to education?

              or are you saying that replicating your genes somehow makes you an expert on how your child will learn to the best of it potential?

    • Tautoko Viper 8.3

      Fisi, the only 2 statements that I agree with are “the vast majority of teachers are reasonable people.” and “they want educational excellence”. The rest is unadulterated crap. Since you are so anti union, I would be interested in your views of the Taxpayers’ Union and the union of marriage. On second thoughts, perhaps I have been naïve and have taken what is perhaps a piece of satirical writing seriously. You must be joking!

    • john 8.4

      The Greens policy on charter schools is they will all be closed down regardless.

      Even if the children going there are performing significantly better than they did in public schools, they will still be closed. All of them.

      Just shows they are prepared to sacrifice children’s future in order to follow an ideology that is blind to results.

      • Tracey 8.4.1

        shouldnt you be chairing a cabinet meeting or something

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4.2

        Of course these sub-standard scab schools deserve closure.

      • framu 8.4.3

        “a change of Government in the near future, your schools will no longer exist as charter schools.” – metira turei

        key word “no longer exist as”

        your talking bullshit john

        your entire pompous and sanctimonious whinging is based on things your inventing in your head

        just stop it for a change – im getting worried about your blood pressure.

        but i dont expect much – youll just side step this and crop up somewhere else in this thread with more bullshit wont you?

        and then when someone points out why your talking shit – youll rinse and repeat

        you sir, arent the slightest bit interested in debate – you just want to shut down anyone who disagrees or challenges you – what are so afraid of?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.4.3.1

          Close the scab schools, and ensure that at least 100% losses are incurred by the perpetrators. It’s the only way they’ll leave our kids alone.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.4.4

        Just shows they are prepared to sacrifice children’s future in order to follow an ideology that is blind to results.

        That would be National and Act who implemented charter schools against advice and the worldwide evidence that the children usually did worse at charter schools than state schools.

    • millsy 8.5

      So would you make joining a trade union illegal for teachers? Thanks for letting us know…

      • framu 8.5.1

        i actually think he would.

        Hope the police union, nurses union, fire fighters, doctors yada yaada yada dont get wind of his anti-free association ideas

    • georgecom 8.6

      Fisi. One size fits all = national standards. A one size fits all standard stretched across the entire primary system. One size fits all = simplistic performance based pay. Lets hope the next government moves AWAY from one size fits all, that will mean scrapping the Nat Standards project. Even better, a government that uses evidence to make decisions, the end of charter schools and the money spent on that experiment.

  9. dimebag russell 9

    well the national party are public servants and they should do what they are told too.
    and they should stop bribing the electorate with money that should be given freely.

  10. Rodel 10

    The status of ‘Executive’ and the money will appeal to some of the more selfish teachers. God forbid we may even see ‘principals’ re- framed as school CEO’s.
    Selective bribery has always been a powerful dogma of the Key government.

  11. In Vino 11

    Travesty on National Radio this morning. Kathryn Ryan stated that the Secondary Sector were supportive of Govt.’s policies, but interviewed only the rep of SPANZ. This is an offshoot of the Secondary system – a group of ‘go-ahead’ originally neo-liberal Principals who, in the earlier days were not satisfied with the Principals’ Council (Principals’ sector of the PPTA). It survived, and now many Principals belong to both SPANZ and the Principals’ Council.

    SPANZ have often opposed the policies of the majority of the Secondary Sector, and were notably far more accepting of Bulk Funding.

    SPANZ only exists alongside the Principals’ Council: it is NOT fully representative of the whole Secondary Sector, and it does not surprise me that it probably shows more enthusiasm for current Govt. policies than others. SPANZ has always leaned more to the right.

    Yet today Kathryn Ryan presented the SPANZ man as spokesperson for the Secondary Sector, and gave him an easy interview where he was able to spin madly in favour of Govt., with no serious questioning.

    Then she used this to give Phil Harding (Primary Principals’ spokesman) a nasty, negative grilling.

    I find it hard to believe that Kathryn Ryan is ignorant of the situation of SPANZ in relation to the PPTA and the Principals’ Council. If she is that ignorant, she needs a good boot in the derriere for not doing any background research. I still go into staffrooms, and can assure her that not many PPTA members want to be spoken for by one SPANZ man who is obviously right-leaning.

    More likely, I fear is that Radio New Zealand is no longer independent, and is now yet another media outlet dominated by the marketing industry through leadership at the top…. We got a biased interview.

    • Tracey 11.1

      you have just exploded john’s head.

      thank you

    • john 11.2

      Over 90% of all secondary schools principals across NZ are members of SPANZ, but you say it’s just some minor and rogue “offshoot”.

      What percentage are members of Secondary Principals Council?

      And don’t they exist to get good pay and conditions for principals – with little focus on what’s best for the children?

      • In Vino 11.2.1

        Since you have put the word ‘offshoot’ in quotation marks, please tell me where you got the quote from. I did not use the word.

        I said that SPANZ now exists alongside the Secondary Principals’ Council, and that it is not fully representative of the Secondary sector. I said that many Principals now belong to both. The Principals’ Council existed before SPANZ did.

        Much to your chagrin, I think you will find that the vast majority of teachers (including the majority of high performers) belong to PPTA, and I think you will find the same of Principals.

        The SPANZ man in Kathryn Ryan’s interview gave no indication that he had discussed anything with his fellow-members since the negotiations he was speaking of. It seemed to be his personal views with no back-up from his membership asked for by Ryan. But the NZEI man had just returned from the hui where the dissenting views were made obvious, and he had to defend those views from an aggressive interviewer falsely pitting the entire Secondary sector against him.

        Poor journalism. If PPTA or the Principals’ Council have it brought to their attention very quickly, maybe they will say something. I hope so, but probably it will go beneath the radar.

        • john 11.2.1.1

          In Vino says “Since you have put the word ‘offshoot’ in quotation marks, please tell me where you got the quote from. I did not use the word.”

          Really?

          In Vino says “This is an OFFSHOOT of the Secondary system – a group of ‘go-ahead’ originally neo-liberal Principals who, in the earlier days were not satisfied with the Principals’ Council (Principals’ sector of the PPTA).”

          -You fail to say what proportion of Principals are members of the Principals Council (is it more than 90%?)
          – You try to say SPANZ is not representitive (when it represents over 90% of schools).
          – You try to label SPANZ as some new group (they’ve been around over quarter of a century)
          – You insinuate they have no support from their members (the SPANZ head has been travelling up and down the country talking with Principal groups about IES)

          • In Vino 11.2.1.1.1

            Sorry – I now see that I did use the word “offshoot” Bugger! Full apology.

            Cannot find the proportion of Principals who belong to the Principal’s’ Council, but I would say that most belong to both. They look for advantages from both, and fair enough.

            But then you spin. SPANZ does not represent over 90% of schools – only Principals. There are many schools where the staff are not totally in agreement with the Principal.

            I said that the Principals’ Council has been around longer than SPANZ, and that remains true.

            Your last point is silly. Don’t put words into my mouth. I said that there was no question from Kathryn Ryan to check that the SPANZ man had been in touch with his members since the negotiations (no doubt he had been travelling up and down talking, but when?)
            I did not insinuate – I clearly stated that one Principal’s opinion should not be portrayed as the opinion of the entire Secondary sector.

            PPTA will eventually tell you the opinion of the bulk of the Secondary sector. SPANZ should not be portrayed as doing so. Especially one guy who has the cheek to impute foul motives to the NZEI. when he has nothing to do with NZEI.

      • framu 11.2.2

        you do notice your sticking up for spanz and supporting what they are saying – yet attacking them in the same comment?

        thats just weird

  12. dimebag russell 12

    geee. wow..maybe the kidz will lurn to reed now?

  13. RedBaronCV 13

    If Spanz get any form of government support there is an econmy that we can make.

  14. millsy 14

    One day, a government is going to come to the realisation that the Tomorrow’s School’s reforms in 1989 need to be (at least partly) rolled back. Nothing wrong with giving schools more autonomy, but whipping away their support structure was not too good an idea.

  15. Philj 15

    xox
    Kathryn Ryan was very supportive of the SPANZ spokesman and dismissive of the NZEI representative. There was no teachers voice , the PPTA! This is poor quality, unbalanced ‘journalism’ and reflects badly on RNZ.

    • dimebag russell 15.1

      it is obvious that Radio New Zealand has lost all credibility as an objective news gathering source. Richard Griffin once characterised RNZ as a group of sasd little lefties but now it has become a gang of sad little venomous righties who will bend over backwards to do anything to please their masters. what was once fair is now foul and beginning to smell.

      • felix 15.1.1

        I used to find Mora’s afternoons pretty vacuous and pedestrian.

        Now that Mercep is doing it they’ve become so dire I actually look forward to Mora’s bit.

  16. It is certainly true that ses and other related factors do have an impact on learner achievement. However to say that that is the main factor is dubious. Teachers do in the teaching and school situation along with ancillary and advisory staff, plus curriculum relevancy do have the bigger impact.
    If this is not the case then schools are irrelevant. In the teaching situation teachers and other staff are the only ones paid to do the job. This does not mean that they should succeed with every child, only that they determine the input in the classroom and need empathy particularly with cultural and ses differences. They have input into the teaching and learning factor. There’s nothing they can do about ses status in the wider context. They have a specific job and the only expectation of the Minister of Education should be that they do it to the best of their ability. As far as standards go I have seen those come and go during my own education and job as a teacher.

    • bad12 16.1

      ”That does not mean that they should succeed with every child”, care to offer up a little bit more of an explanation as to what exactly you mean by that statement Atihana,???…

      • Atihana Johns 16.1.1

        Sorry. I meant that every teacher cannot succeed with every child no matter how well intentioned. If a teacher has a 12 year old child in class with a reading age of 6 and after an intense 6 months of teaching that child’s reading age progresses to 7 that’s progress but still another 5 and a 1/2 years to go. And it depends on how long that child has that teacher and that programme.

        • bad12 16.1.1.1

          Aha, and, how long the teacher has that child for works both ways doesn’t it, the ‘churn’ within schools being the cause of separation in a lot of cases,

          Just as a matter of interest Atihana, not having been anywhere near a school for decades, are each child’s records/achievement levels computerized from year one,

          Lolz, i was just thinking of the education question with relation to one of the other Posts i have commented in today,

          In the vein of the discussion turning to ‘power imbalances’ in relationships and the 20% of kids that escape the education system still functionally illiterate,

          Were you reading my mind…

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  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
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    29 mins ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
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  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
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    32 mins ago
  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
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  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
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  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
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  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 hours ago
  • The worth of it all
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
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    11 hours ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    11 hours ago
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    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    17 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
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    19 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    20 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    21 hours ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    24 hours ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
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  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
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  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
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    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
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    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
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    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
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    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
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    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
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    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
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    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
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    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
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    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
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    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
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    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    3 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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