Minister: Hekia Parata

Minister provides assurances to schools

Admin — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:38:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Budget 2012

Education Minister Hekia Parata says no school will lose more than two full-time teachers (FTTEs) as a result of the policy changes in Budget 2012. “As we've previously said, about 90% of schools will either gain, or have a net loss of less than one FTTE as a result of the combined effect of the ratio changes and projected roll growth,’’ Ms Parata says. “We have examined the effect on the other 10 per cent of schools, and some would be affected more than we would accept. ...

Minister welcomes Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Samoan Language Week

Beehive — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:07:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

Talofa Lava Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata encourages all to participate in the Samoan language week celebrations beginning Sunday 27 May. “The theme this year, O le vāfealoa’i: strong and respectful relationships, is a fitting theme for this years’ Samoan language week, as Samoa also celebrates 50 years of independence and the signing of a Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand,” says Ms Parata. ...

Career and subject choices critical

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

Pacific Islands Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, welcomes the report of the Pacific Adolescent Career Pathways Report recently released. “Matching subject choices at secondary school to your career hopes and dreams is critical for Pacific students,” says Ms Parata. The research by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in 2010 found a significant mismatch between what students hoped to do, and the subjects they chose. ...

Raising quality in early childhood education

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hon Hekia Parata has today released a series of recommendations on how to improve the quality of early childhood education (ECE). The recommendations are the findings of two advisory groups which were established in January of this year to focus on improving the quality of ECE services, particularly for those children under the age of two. “I welcome the recommendations and thank the advisory groups for identifying many practical solutions that can be implemented quickly.” ...

$511.9m more to deliver better results for students

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 focuses on raising student achievement by investing $511.9 million of operating funding for new initiatives in education over the next four years, Education Minister Hekia Parata says. This takes the Government’s total investment in early childhood education and schooling to $9.6 billion for 2012/13. “Our education system is among the best in the world,’’ says Ms Parata. “Four out of five kids are successful and we must celebrate their success and the outstanding professionals in the education system who make that possible. ...

$110.9m to increase early childhood participation

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Budget 2012

Extra Budget operating funding of $110.9 million for early childhood education (ECE) over the next four years continues the Government’s drive to increase the number of vulnerable children participating in ECE, Education Minister Hekia Parata says. “We know that participating in early childhood education has considerable benefits for children. “One of the 10 measurable targets of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Services results centres on early childhood education. ...

First investment to develop 21st Century Schools

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:19:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Budget 2012

The Government is investing the first $33.8 million of proceeds from the Future Investment Fund into upgrading school IT networks, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Craig Foss say. This is part of the $1 billion ring-fenced in the fund for investing in the Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. The fund is established in Budget 2012 to invest the $5 billion to $7 billion expected proceeds from the Government’s partial share sales of five SOEs. ...

Hundreds of schools to benefit from broadband

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:18:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 continues the Government’s commitment to making New Zealand schools among the most connected in the world, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams say. The Government is providing $8 million in 2012/13 to help schools connect to the ultra-fast broadband (UFB) network. Hundreds of schools will have access to government funding to cover the costs of the fibre connection from the school boundary into the school. ...

Minister welcomes NCEA results from Pacific mentoring programme

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

Pacific Island Minister, Hekia Parata, congratulates the students mentored under the Pacific Employment Services Scheme [PESS] who have achieved higher than usual NCEA pass rates. Under the PESS, established in January 2011, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs contracts providers to help build skills, educational achievement and employment outcomes among young Pacific people. ...

Focus on quality will raise achievement

Beehive — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:51:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today said the National-led Government’s focus on teaching quality will raise achievement and ensure our young people get the skills they need to reach their potential. “I’m proud that Budget 2012 will invest an extra $511.9 million into education over the next four years despite the difficult financial environment we are living in,” Ms Parata said. “As I announced yesterday, that money will be invested into quality frontline education services. ...

Speech Notes: Raising achievement for all in Budget 2012

Admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:12:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

• I’m here today to talk about our education plan. Education is a subject that’s dear to my heart and head - and indeed yours, as future employers and business associates of the generation of young New Zealanders who are coming through our education system today. • I’ve been around the education sector for many years and as you know I have been the Education Minister for five months. I’m passionate about education and what a good education can do for our young people. ...

Budget 2012: Extra $511.9 million for education

Admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:11:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Budget 2012 will deliver funding that is firmly focused on raising student achievement, says Education Minister Hekia Parata. “We are increasing the overall spending on education – for the fourth Budget in a row. This is happening despite tight fiscal times, against a backdrop of a recent global financial crisis, and the Canterbury earthquakes. This reflects the priority National places on education.’’ ...

Draft education renewal programme for greater Christchurch released

Admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Steven Joyce | Education

The Education and Tertiary Education Ministers have today released a draft programme to guide the renewal of the education network in greater Christchurch following the Canterbury earthquakes. “Directions for Education Renewal in Greater Christchurch” is the result of several months of engagement with education leaders, teachers, young people, business leaders, stakeholders, and Ngāi Tahu. It outlines a number of proposals which could change the way education is delivered in the greater Christchurch area. ...

Network for Learning a step closer

Admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, today announced that the Ministry of Education is seeking a network services provider for the Network for Learning, an online network that will enable improved access to education resources for learners. Suppliers are being asked to present innovative proposals to deliver network services such as internet access, firewalling, filtering and network helpdesk services. Ms Parata says that the Government wants to ensure the Network for Learning can deliver a cost-effective solution for schools. ...

New Board to help drive better achievement for deaf and hearing-impaired learners

Admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

A single, combined board of trustees is to be set up to help raise achievement among New Zealand’s deaf and hearing-impaired students, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today. Combining the boards of Kelston and van Asch Deaf Education Centres, will help drive a national strategy for deaf and hearing- impaired learners. In addition to the strategy, the Government is investing nearly $10m redeveloping Kelston Deaf Education Centre. ...

Reference group to boost Māori-medium teaching workforce

Beehive — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:44:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Minister Pita Sharples have announced the establishment of an expert reference group on the Māori-medium teaching workforce. The reference group will advise the Government on how to increase the number of high-quality, te reo-fluent teachers in Māori-medium education. The ten strong group, who will meet for the first time today, is made of up principals, academics and business leaders. ...

2011 Prime Minister’s Award announced

Admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:49:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Jade Fai Leung from Auckland’s St Cuthbert’s College was named today as winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence. Education Minister, Hekia Parata, presented the Top Scholar Awards, on behalf of the Prime Minister, at Government House. The Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence recognises the highest achieving student in the annual New Zealand scholarship examinations. ...

Remote and provincial schools to get faster broadband

Beehive — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Communications and Information Technology

Work will begin to connect all of New Zealand’s remaining schools, including our most remote, to faster broadband, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams announced today. Ms Parata says 57 remote schools and 193 provincial schools are included in the latest Rural Broadband Initiative contracts. The remote schools, which includes schools in Haast, Stewart Island and Great Barrier Island, will receive faster broadband (10Mbps or more) using point to point wireless technology. ...

Tackling youth mental health in schools

Admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Secondary schools will be better equipped to identify and deal with students who have mental health problems under the National-led Government’s youth mental health package, Education Minister Hekia Parata says. The package, announced today by Prime Minister John Key, will put more nurses and youth workers into schools and make changes so that young people learn in a safe and supportive environment. ...

Ministerial Inquiry to be extended

Admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

The Ministerial Inquiry into the employment of a convicted sex offender in the education sector will now report back on 15 June 2012, Education Minister, Hekia Parata, said today. The inquiry was to report back to Ms Parata by 30 April 2012 however with the case before the court it has been difficult for inquiry head, Mel Smith, to speak to key witnesses prompting him to seek an extension. ...

Charter School Working Group Members Announced

Beehive — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, and Associate Education Minister, John Banks, are glad to announce the appointments for the New Zealand Model of Charter School Working Group. “Our focus is unrelentingly on raising achievement, in particular for those groups of students who have historically been under-served by the system,’’ says Ms Parata. ...

More schools to benefit from UFB

Admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:46:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Communications and Information Technology

The roll out of ultra-fast broadband to more schools in Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth and Whanganui will see thousands more students able to be connected to the network by July, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams say. Ultrafast Fibre, one of the Government’s four UFB partners, today announced the next 23 schools in these regions that will be able to connect to the network by July this year. These schools are in addition to another nine that were deployed by Ultrafast Fibre in January. ...

International Summit on the Teaching Profession shows New Zealand is on the right track

Admin — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

The International Summit on the Teaching Profession affirmed the Government is taking the right steps to help teachers deliver 21st century learning skills, says Education Minister, Hekia Parata. New Zealand was one of 23 countries hosted in New York by US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, the OECD and Education International to discuss and share ideas about effective school leadership, teacher education and professional development, and the evaluation of teaching. ...

Minister to attend International Summit on the Teaching Profession

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:51:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, will attend the second International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) in New York next week. The US Department of Education, the OECD and Education International are bringing together Education Ministers, Union Leaders and other Teacher Leaders from 24 countries, on March 14-15, to discuss and share ideas about teacher education and professional development, effective school leadership, and evaluation of teaching. ...

Celebrating Pacific cultures

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, will this weekend encourage Pacific communities across the country to celebrate their diverse cultures and be proud of what they offer. Tomorrow Ms Parata is attending Creekfest in Porirua and then heading to Auckland for the 20th anniversary of the Pasifika Festival. “Pacific cultures are an increasingly important part of how we express our national identity and it is exciting to see the popularity of Pacific festivals grow from strength to strength each year,'' says Ms Parata. ...

Thousands to benefit from Youth Guarantee

Admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:34:00 +0000

Steven Joyce | Education

A total of 9616 training places will be available in 2012 for 16 and 17 year olds under the Government's Youth Guarantee Scheme, Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today. The Government is investing more than $100 million in the Youth Guarantee Scheme in 2012, which encompasses fees-free tertiary places at levels 1-3 for 16 and 17 year olds, and Trades Academies. ...

UFB to be rolled out to hundreds more schools

Beehive — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Communications and Information Technology

More than 410,000 students at over 1500 schools will have access to ultra-fast broadband by July next year, says Education Minister Hekia Parata and Communications and IT Minister Amy Adams. Prime Minister John Key today announced the next 693 schools to be connected by Chorus, one of the Crown’s four partners for the ultra-fast broadband initiative and the fibre provider for the rural broadband initiative. It includes schools in Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru, Greymouth, Nelson, Gisborne, Whakatane, Auckland, and many other areas. ...

Treasure your children this Children’s Day

Beehive — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, encourages parents everywhere to take time out to have fun with their kids on Children’s Day this Sunday 4 March. “Children’s Day is important because it’s the day we stop to reflect on what our children mean to us, and what we can do for them, everyday,'' says Ms Parata. The nationwide event has been celebrated for 11 years with events around the country. This year's theme is ‘treasure our children'. ...

Ministerial Inquiry to be established

Admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

There will be a Ministerial Inquiry into the employment of a convicted sex offender in the education sector, Education Minister, Hekia Parata, announced today. The inquiry has been initiated after Ministers were informed late last week that a convicted sex offender had been arrested while allegedly in breach of the offender’s conditions of release. The individual was working in the education sector. ...

Govt funds Pacific trades initiative for Christchurch

Beehive — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:26:00 +0000

Steven Joyce | Pacific Island Affairs

The Government is providing $6 million to support Pacific peoples enter into trades training in 2012 and 2013 to assist with the Christchurch rebuild, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hekia Parata announced today. The initiative, part of the Government’s wider Skills for Canterbury contingency package of $42 million, is providing up to 300 fees-free places in trades training throughout New Zealand. ...