Smart Growth Day Learning Media shows kiwi innovation

Education Minister Trevor Mallard will today visit Wellington-based Learning Media Limited to congratulate them on the success of their world leading literacy materials and programmes, one of which has recently been adopted by New York City to help its struggling readers.

"Learning Media Limited's innovative literacy materials are making a difference to kids' reading here in New Zealand, and making an impact on the global market. The crown-owned company is an excellent example of how the government's drive to foster innovation at a national level is working in practice," Trevor Mallard said.

Learning Media Limited have grown their annual revenue in the past five years from $11 million to more than $25 million in 2002 and their export earnings have grown in proportion to revenue from the domestic market.

New York City recently adopted Learning Media Limited's new audio-assisted intervention programme for struggling readers, New Heights, to use in its 11 most challenging school districts. The programme came highly recommended and is already proving successful.

"New Zealanders have lots of new ideas and the government is working to make sure that these are turned into jobs. Learning Media Limited is a great example of this. The company's capacity has more than doubled in the past five years, and they now employ more than 120 permanent staff as well as hundreds of contractors in New Zealand and globally.

"I'm pleased to see the positive effects in New Zealand schools from Learning Media Limited's materials, such as the award-winning series of electronic storybooks to encourage reluctant readers. Its also excellent to see these innovative programmes creating commercial opportunities overseas."

As well as its contract to develop digital literacy resources for the Ministry of Education, Learning Media Limited also sells programmes to a growing number of international markets including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, South Africa, the UK, and the Pacific.

"Learning Media Limited's plans to adapt their successful reading programmes for Maori language learning is another positive for New Zealand education," Trevor Mallard said.

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