Hekia Parata
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the opening of two new classroom blocks at Ellerslie School in Auckland.

Maungakiekie MP Sam Lotu-Iiga visited the school today to officially open the new blocks on Minister Parata’s behalf.

“The new blocks represent an investment of more than $10 million and follow the modernisation of other classrooms at the school,” says Ms Parata.

“This is about ensuring that Ellerslie School has capacity to meet a growing roll and provide a 21st Century learning environment.”

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the passing of a bill which will provide increased flexibility for parents, students, school boards and early childhood education providers.

The Education Legislation Bill passed its Third and final reading in Parliament today.

“This Bill is a significant milestone for our education system. It amends several Acts, including the Education Act 1989, and provides further flexibility for school communities,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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A sod turning ceremony attended by Education Minister Hekia Parata today marked the start of the second stage of the redevelopment of Te Waka Unua School in Christchurch.

“This stage of the project will see eight new learning spaces built, as well as a new multipurpose hall and extension of the existing administration block,” says Ms Parata.

The redevelopment of Te Waka Unua School, which was formed by the merger of Woolston and Phillipstown Schools, is part of the Government’s $1.137 billion Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme.

Hekia Parata Education
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Around $750,000 will be invested to build two new classrooms at Fernside School in Rangiora, Canterbury, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This is part of a second round of investments in new classrooms under Budget 2016, which provides $882.5 million for school property, including 480 new classrooms to meet roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

The first round of investments was announced in May and June this year. That saw twenty-one new roll growth classrooms announced for Canterbury schools.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata is encouraging all schools, kura and early childhood education providers to enter education’s answer to the Oscars.

“The Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards are about celebrating education excellence, recognising the great work taking place in our schools, kura and ECE providers across New Zealand,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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Cambridge High School and Ngaruawahia High School in the Waikato will both undergo major redevelopments, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“Around $8 million will be invested in Ngaruawahia High School, and around $9 million will be spent redeveloping Cambridge High School,” says Ms Parata.

“Both schools have issues such as leaky buildings or classrooms that are old and in poor condition, so this will be welcome news for their communities.

Hekia Parata Education
Speech

Tena koutou katoa.

I’d like to acknowledge our mana whenua and our hosts here at Victoria University.

As leading business men and women you know well that now, more than ever, we are a country of global citizens. And that how we embrace the world and its needs will have a clear correlation with how prosperous we will be as a nation.

On a recent trip overseas I was reminded how quickly education systems are evolving and how important it is that New Zealand not just keep up, but carve our own pathway in these areas.

Hekia Parata Education
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Around $9 million will be invested in the redevelopment of Edgecumbe College in the Bay of Plenty, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This project will involve demolishing and rebuilding three existing classroom blocks and an administration building,” says Ms Parata.

“Another three blocks will be repaired or have remediation work carried out to address weathertightness issues.

“Many of the existing buildings at the college are old or leaky, so this is about creating a 21st Century learning environment.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata this afternoon welcomed a historic school bus onto the grounds of Parliament.

“This is a replica of a Ford Model T bus, used for New Zealand’s first ever school bus service that began in Piopio in 1924,” says Ms Parata.

Volunteers from the Piopio College Trust and others created the replica, after sourcing an original 1921 chassis and motor and recreating the wooden framework and other details.

Hekia Parata Education
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An additional $5.9 million will be invested in the redevelopment of Auckland’s Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This extra investment will take the total value of the project to over $21 million,” says Ms Parata.

Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae shares a site with Southern Cross Campus in Mangere, a co-ed school for years 1-13 which is also currently undergoing redevelopment, valued at over $23 million.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata says a Bill increasing flexibility for parents, students, school boards and home-based early childhood education providers has progressed to third reading in Parliament today.

The Education Legislation Bill passed its Committee of the Whole House stage after widespread debate.

Hekia Parata
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced the nine successful applicants to a $1 million contestable fund for projects that will engage students in digital technologies. 

“We’re funding providers who have innovative and smart projects that will capture teachers’ and students’ imagination and help them get skilled in using and developing digital technologies,” says Ms Parata.

The projects are part of a broader package of support for schools when the digital technologies curriculum content starts to be rolled out in 2018.

Hekia Parata Education
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Construction work has started on the $23.5 million second stage of the redevelopment of Southern Cross Campus, a co-ed school for years 1 to 13 in Mangere, Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“This stage of the redevelopment will see 24 new teaching spaces built, along with a new multi-purpose centre, library and administration facilities,” says Ms Parata.

The first stage saw the creation of a new $3.5 million trades academy.

Hekia Parata Education
Speech

Tena koutou katoa. Thank you for the invitation to speak on day two of the uLearn16 conference.

It’s wonderful to see so many educators together in one room. You are part of an increasingly connected, collaborative and innovative education system.

Education is the backbone of any successful nation.

As a small nation we need to be smarter and focus on building the potential of our children and young people to become a highly skilled and qualified workforce.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata has represented New Zealand at the state funeral for former president, Shimon Peres, extending her education visit to do so.

“It was a privilege to mark the passing of a national and international leader whose long life was committed to the service of his country, and to the relentless pursuit of peace”, Ms Parata says.

 Ms Parata wrapped up discussions with education leaders and experts in Israel, which reinforced that New Zealand’s education is highly-regarded on the world stage.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Education Minister Hekia Parata will represent New Zealand at the state funeral of former President Shimon Peres in Israel on Friday.

“President Peres carved out a special place in world politics," Ms Parata says. “Our thoughts are with the Peres family and the nation of Israel as they celebrate his remarkable life, and mark his passing.”

“The loss of such an influential and inspirational leader in his 93rd year is a day for respect and reflection, not only for Israelis, but the world.”

Hekia Parata Education
Speech

Shalom. Tēnā koutou katoa and warm greetings from across the Pacific.

Thank you for the invitation to participate in this Summit. I appreciate the opportunity to share New Zealand’s latest chapter in our ever-evolving education story, and how we’re preparing children and young people to be confident participants in their highly connected and increasingly innovative world.

Ours is a small nation with a far reach and big ambitions.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata says her meetings with education experts and leaders in the United States confirmed that New Zealand’s education system is a world-leader in preparing young people for the 21st century.

Ms Parata joined international education experts and leaders, including OECD Secretary-General, Dr Angel Gurria and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, for discussions at the Asia Society Center for Global Education in New York.

Hekia Parata Education
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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata have today announced the release of a new Youth Guarantee Secondary-Tertiary pilot programme, DualPathways.

DualPathways students will be enrolled part-time in secondary school at Year 12 or 13 and part-time in either tertiary education or industry training. The programme will come into effect next year and replaces a small scale Secondary-Tertiary pilot that finishes in December this year.

Hekia Parata Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata will today travel to the United States to examine one of that country’s most successful education systems and to discuss training with leading academics.

Ms Parata will meet with a number of education experts in Massachusetts and New York.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata is urging New Zealand teachers to put their names forward for the Special Education study awards for 2017.

“The Special Education study awards are an excellent professional opportunity for teachers to develop their skills in working with students with additional learning needs,” says Ms Parata.

“For 2017 there are more than 150 new Special Education study awards available to New Zealand teachers so that they can train in specialist areas.”

Hekia Parata Education
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Contractors will be on site this week, ready to begin the $4.2 million upgrade at Papatoetoe Central School in Auckland, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The start of work on a new, two-storey classroom block makes this an exciting time for the school,” says Ms Parata.

The new block will have eight learning spaces, to replace six older classrooms at the school. The two additional learning spaces are to accommodate expected roll growth.

Hekia Parata Education
Release

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata have today welcomed a report which shows the performance of New Zealand’s education sector, at all levels, compares well with those of other developed countries.

The OECD Report, Education at a Glance 2016, measures 35 countries on the output of educational institutions, the impact of learning, financial and human resources invested in education, and participation.

Steven Joyce Hekia Parata Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Education