Hekia Parata
Release

More information on the improvements in Māori student achievement has been released today by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Based on information derived from the Ministry of Education’s Public Achievement Information (PAI) publications, the Iwi Education Profiles show iwi-by-iwi as well as rohe breakdowns of early childhood participation data and schooling achievement data.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has extended a multi-million dollar fund for innovative teaching projects to staff in early education.

“I’m pleased to announce that teachers and kaiako from early childhood education services and kohanga reo can now apply for the $18 million Teacher-led Innovation fund (TLIF)”, says Ms Parata.

Teachers at schools and kura across New Zealand have been benefiting from the Fund since 2014. Qualified ECE teachers have been eligible to apply in partnership with primary and secondary teachers.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today officially opened the new Rolleston College in Christchurch.

Ms Parata says she was delighted to celebrate the milestone with the Rolleston community.

“Today is a celebration of everyone’s hard work and commitment to Rolleston College, as well as the continued progress being made in the Christchurch School Build programme.

“The school’s state-of-the-art facilities will support a wide range of effective teaching practices and a lift in achievement for all students,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata wishes children and young people well as they prepare to head to school from Monday.

“A new school year presents new possibilities and challenges. I hope kids are feeling excited about expanding their knowledge, learning new skills, making new friends and trying out a new sport or club,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith have congratulated the 17 New Zealanders who have received New Year Honours for services to education.

“There are passionate and committed people working hard every day to help ensure that young New Zealanders get a world-class education and it’s great to see some of the very best being honoured,” says Ms Parata.

Paul Goldsmith Hekia Parata Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has thanked parents, teachers, principals, boards and support staff for their hard work, passion and commitment to ensuring that our students get a world-class education.

“As schools across the country wrap up lessons for the year, it is timely to pay tribute to all those involved in making sure Kiwi kids get the best education possible,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced an appointment to the Board of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura).

Te Kura is a distance education provider offering personalised learning programmes from early childhood to Year 13. It works in partnership with students, whānau, school and communities to support students to achieve their educational and personal goals.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced two new appointments and four reappointments to the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Established in July 2015, the Education Council is the professional organisation for teachers.

“I am pleased to make these appointments on the advice of the chair Barbara Ala’alatoa,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has officially established a new primary school in the fast-growing north Hamilton suburb of Sylvester.

The school, located at the corner of Borman Road and Hare Puke Drive, will enrol year one to six students from Term One 2019.

“This is an exciting time for this new community. The school will be a focal point for families living in the area and a valuable community asset, Ms Parata says.

“This school will provide safe, supportive and inclusive learning environments that reflect the community.”

Hekia Parata Education
Release

The expansion of Wakatipu High School in Queenstown to accommodate a roll of up to 1800 will be considered under next year’s Budget, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“A relocated and expanded Wakatipu High School is already on track to open at the start of 2018,” says Ms Parata.

“The project underway will see the school’s capacity increased to 1200 students, up from 1060 at the current site.

“However, we know that Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most popular and fastest growing regions.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Around $17.5 million will be invested to redevelop three more Wellington schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The schools are:

  • Northland School - $8 million redevelopment
  • Churton Park School - $6 million redevelopment
  • Brooklyn School - $3.5 million redevelopment.

“These schools have experienced issues such as ageing or leaky buildings, so this investment will be welcome news for their communities,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

The Government will invest $14.7 million to redevelop Grey Lynn School in central Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This project will see ageing facilities replaced and will also set the school up to accommodate anticipated roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

“As with many parts of the city, the population in central Auckland is growing rapidly, and we need to ensure local schools have the capacity to meet increased demand.”

Hekia Parata Education
Release

The winners of a prestigious tertiary scholarship awarded annually in honour of the 28th (Māori) Battalion have been announced by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“The eight winners of the 2016/17 Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships exemplify excellence in education as well as service and commitment to the community,” says Ms Parata, who chairs the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

An extra $20.7 million will be invested in the redevelopment of Macleans College in Bucklands Beach, Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This additional funding will increase the Government’s total investment in the college’s makeover to more than $38 million,” says Ms Parata.

As part of redevelopment work that began in 2010, twelve blocks comprising 55 teaching spaces and a gymnasium have been remediated.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Two New Zealand principals will have the chance to lead schools in South Australia as part of a trans-Tasman exchange programme, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“The South Australia/New Zealand Principal Exchange programme is the first of its kind and offers principals an exciting opportunity to experience leading a school in a different jurisdiction,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the results of an international study that shows New Zealand has consolidated its place in the top half of the OECD.

The three yearly cycle of the Programme of International Student Achievement (PISA) ranks 70 countries and education systems based on a one-day snapshot of 15 year olds across reading, mathematics and science.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata is encouraging graduates in high-demand teaching subjects to put their names forward for the 2017 Science, Technology and Maths Secondary Scholarships.

“The scholarships are a great opportunity for graduates wanting to become secondary teachers in the sciences, technology or maths (STM) subjects,” says Ms Parata.

“Science, technology and maths teachers are in high demand and we want to attract top graduates who can pass on their passion for these subjects to our secondary school students.”

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today welcomed the release of dual language resources for Pasifika new entrant students.

The resources comprise 100 dual-language flip books, audio and online resources in five Pasifika languages – Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean – and English, as well as supporting materials for teachers and parents.

Hekia Parata Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Local Government Education Pacific Peoples
Release

Almost half a million kids are now benefitting from their school being part of Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“Another 32 Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako have now been approved, taking the total to 180 across every region of the country,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the completion of the project to provide schools with fast, uncapped, Crown-funded internet.

“A total of 2431 schools are now connected to the $211 million N4L Managed Network, says Ms Parata.

“This is about providing schools and students across New Zealand with access to the vast world of learning resources available online.”

With the rollout completed, more than 789,000 students and teachers are using the N4L Managed Network for learning.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

A funding increase for the Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP) will see $1 million provided towards retrofitting wireless technology at 34 state-integrated schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This is about schools having the digital infrastructure they need to make the most of online resources for learning,” says Ms Parata.

In 2014, WSNUP was set up to retrofit wireless technology to schools that had not received wireless as part of the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP).

Hekia Parata Education
Release


“I am encouraged by the latest TIMSS results and I want to congratulate students, parents, teachers and schools for their hard work. I want to also make special mention of the Year 5 science students, who were the stand-out achievers for taking their score from 497 to 506,” Ms Parata says.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata travelled to Kaikoura today to see first-hand the incredible efforts being made to reopen the region’s schools after the deadly 7.8 earthquake.

“I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in ensuring we could get children and young people back to school as safely and quickly as possible. I am also pleased to see how the schools came through the initial November 14 earthquake as well as the continual aftershocks,” Ms Parata says.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today formally invited the Education and Science Select Committee to consider a change to the Education (Update) Amendment Bill to prohibit the use of seclusion in schools.

“Following my announcement earlier this month that I intended to invite the Select Committee to consider legislation that would prohibit seclusion in schools and early childhood education services, I have now written to the Chair with the proposed Supplementary Order Paper for the committee to consider,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education