9. Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What decisions has she made on schools’ operational funding?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The primary decision I have made on schools’ operational funding was to provide an additional $80.1 million over 4 years into schools’ operational grants in Budget 2009. I have also told the ministry to stop the previous Government’s practice of wasting money on “Wassup!” badges and anti-bullying word finds that sit unused in the corner of classrooms, so that we can get more money out to schools.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Why did she decide to give new wharekura base operational funding of $50,000 compared with the $130,000 base funding that a Pākehā school with the same number of students will get?
I would refer that question to the Minister of Māori Affairs, who is the Associate Minister of Education and has responsibility for wharekura. But if the member cares to put it down in writing, then I will ensure that he will get an answer.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have in my hand the decisions signed by that Minister—
Mr SPEAKERThe member knows that it is up to Ministers to determine who is responsible for certain matters that I cannot determine as Speaker. The member has supplementary questions, so if he thinks that the Minister’s answer is wrong, then he can easily frame a question that can make that a very sharp issue.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think you know that the Opposition has a limited number of questions. For a Minister to say in an answer something that is patently untrue, because she—
No, the member must not use a point of order to allege that a Minister has said something that is untrue. Question time does not always flow exactly as members might expect it to flow. Supplementary questions that are asked should relate to the answers given. The Minister has given an answer that appears to the member to be pretty controversial. He can now, therefore, test that answer further with supplementary questions. That is what question time is all about.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Did her Associate Minister Pita Sharples agree to her discriminatory funding decision, which values white children’s education more highly than that of brown children?
I find that comment highly offensive. This Government is working very closely with the Māori Party and with my Associate Minister of Education to ensure that all Māori children, whether they are in mainstream schools or in wharekura, are given an excellent education. I have made the offer to that member. If he cares to put his question down in writing, then I will ensure that he gets an answer to it.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Did she, on 27 January this year, make a decision to fund wharekura $50,000 for base funding when a white kids’ school would get $130,000?
I do not have that piece of paper in front of me. I do not have the details of the decision that was made. If the member had wished to get specific answers, then he should have put that down in the primary question so that I could have brought the information to the House with me.
Louise UpstonIn August 2009 the Prime Minister launched Kiwisport, delivering on this Government’s promise to put money directly into the front line to help more New Zealand children participate in organised sport. Kiwisport will provide $45 million in operational funding directly to schools over the next 4 years.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I seek leave to table the document entitled Education Report: Change of Class Applications, which is signed, I think, about nine times by the Minister of Education.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
It is a Ministry of Education document approved by the Minister of Education. She has signed it about nine or 10 times.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have listened to the comments made by the Hon Trevor Mallard in respect of brown schools and white schools. The context of the discussion indicated that kura kaupapa Māori wharekura are only for Māori children.
The member will resume his seat immediately. Does the member want me to intervene? Is the member personally offended by a statement? I apologise to the member, but he needs to make it more clear what his point of order is.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Against that background, I do find the member’s comment offensive and I ask that he withdraw and apologise. [ Interruption]
A point of order is being considered. It would be reasonable for me as Speaker to ask the member to desist from that. To ask him to withdraw and apologise for something that does not directly relate—
Hon Gerry Brownlee Link to this
There has been a Speaker’s ruling on this matter once before. It related to a small skirmish between myself and Mr Tamihere. I most willingly made a withdrawal and apology on that occasion. I think it is appropriate for Mr Mallard to withdraw and apologise.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
The point I am making is that kura kaupapa Māori have open entry to the tamariki, to the children, of this country—Māori, Pākehā, or others. The inference was that they are only for Māori children.
The member is introducing debating material into a matter where he has claimed that he took personal offence to what the Hon Trevor Mallard said. But I have a dilemma in that I do not believe that I can ask the member to withdraw and apologise for his language during the asking of the question, because I do not believe he was making a personal reflection on anyone. I have to be careful not to simply rule out things willy-nilly. I ask Mr Mallard to be careful in describing situations in the future.
Hon Gerry Brownlee Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. There were words used by Mr Mallard that I can understand Mr Flavell taking exception to, most notably the suggestion that it was discriminatory. I think that if someone has taken offence, it is not unreasonable in matters particularly of this sensitivity that there is a withdrawal and an apology.
I will not waste further time—well, I should not use that language; it is a matter that has created some concern in the House. The member has expressed concern that the Hon Trevor Mallard reflected on kura kaupapa Māori incorrectly, that kura kaupapa Māori, as the member points out, are available to all New Zealanders. This is a debating issue. It is not really an issue of personal offence. There has been no personal reflection on anyone. The member may have made a mistake in implying that kura kaupapa Māori were available only to New Zealanders of a certain ethnic background, and I would ask him to be more careful in the future. But he was not making a personal reflection on any member of this House. That is why I do not believe I can ask him to withdraw and apologise. I have to be careful not to make this place too precious. But had it been a personal reflection on the honourable member, it would have been a totally different matter.