PQ 10. Schools, Buildings—Hato Pētera College [Sitting date: 09 December 2014. Volume:702;Page:9. Text is subject to correction.]

10. TRACEY MARTIN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Associate Minister of Education : What reports has she received about Hato Pētera College buildings and property?

Hon NIKKI KAYE (Associate Minister of Education): Alt hough I have not received any formal reports on Hato Pētera College, I did receive a verbal briefing today. Hato Pētera College is a State integrated school, and the buildings and the property are the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. However, I do understand that officials from the Ministry of Education have been working closely with the proprietor of the school over the last month and are meeting again tonight to discuss matters raised in the recent Education Review Office report on the school.

Tracey Martin : In light of that answer, has the Minister read the 2012 and the 2014 Education Review Office reports that identify Hato Pētera College as a “Special character Roman Catholic Māori” State school, and, therefore, the Ministry of Education has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring a safe physical environment is provided; if not, why not?

Hon NIKKI KAYE : Although I have not specifically read that report, I can clarify for the member the way that our system works in terms of overall responsibility in property in this area. We fund about $66 million around State integrated schools. A large chunk of that money is allocated to the diocese. It then allocates that to schools. The issues are, really, with the diocese and the school at the moment. However, I am aware of the issues that have been raised around the hostel, and it is my expectation that there is better quality. That is why the ministry will be ensuring that there is an inspection of that hostel in the next couple of months.

Tracey Martin : In light of the fact that the Education Review Office in its 2014 report identified Hato Pētera College as a “Special character Roman Catholic Māori” State school—not an integrated school—is the Minister confident in the verbal briefing she received this morning that the school has been appropriately identified?

Hon NIKKI KAYE : Again, I am operating on the information that I have. What I can say to the member is that on the previous information that I gave in answer to the last question around how our system works, it is very clear to me from the information I have been given that it is the responsibility of the diocese to allocate that money. There are regulations under the Education Act around hostels and there is a responsibility for that school to meet those regulations, and there has previously been an inspection. But, as I said before, there are issues that have been raised in that Education Review Office report and it is my expectation that there will be another inspection.

Tracey Martin : In the 2012 Education Review Office report in which Hato Pētera College hostel caregivers and school staff were commended for promoting a safe emotional environment and supporting the learning of these priority learners, no mention was made—

Mr SPEAKER : Order! Can we have the question, please.

Tracey Martin : —certainly—of any maintenance issues; and does this concern the Minister that 2 years later it is suddenly a matter of urgency?

Hon NIKKI KAYE : Well, look, there are 2,500 schools in New Zealand, so obviously I have not read that report in detail. What I can say to the member is that there is a range of hostels around New Zealand. All that we can do is do what we can with the report that we have got now, which is that there are quality issues around that hostel and that the responsibility lies with the school and the diocese. We are raising those issues with them and it is their responsibility to sort out any issues of quality.

Tracey Martin : Will the Minister accept that the $11 million of taxpayers’ money spent on the ACT Party’s Aspire Scholarship subsidies for private schools would have been better spent on State special character schools such as Hato Pētera College and the priority learners it supports?

Mr SPEAKER : That question is a long, long one. I am going to allow it to stand because I am sure that the Minister can handle it, but the question has to relate to the supplementary. I call the Hon Nikki Kaye, if she chooses to answer.

Hon NIKKI KAYE : No, and I am very proud that under our National Government, every year that we have been in office we have increased the education budget. It is a tribute to Minister Parata. Well done.

Marama Fox : What reports has she received about the impact of Te Umanga Oranga, a specialist health sciences academy on site, utilising Hato Pētera College buildings, to advance educational excellence for Māori seeking to enter the health sector?

Hon NIKKI KAYE : Although I have not received any formal reports, I have got information and I understand that it has been extremely successful in raising student achievement. The programme provides years 11 to 13 students with leadership development, education support, and engages people in e-learning and mentoring, and I am also aware that it has been so successful. I think it is important for us to acknowledge in this House that they have another academy coming, specifically around the armed services.

ENDS

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