Tena koutou katoa
Better late than never, here’s my first blog.
I’m in parliament to raise Maori educational achievement.
The good news is that with the correct approach we should see significant lifts in Maori educational achievement in a relatively short period of time – say 5-7 years. We don’t need to wait another generation to see the results.
The bad news is the correct approach isn’t being taken by the present government.
While we fixate on superfluous, peripheral and ideological issues instead of focusing on the ’specific acts of teaching’ that make kids learn, we will continue to see a ‘tail of underachievement’ that is mainly comprised of Maori kids.
Our solutions need to be based around what is proven to make kids learn as fast as possible and to as high a standard as possible.
The secrets to raising achievement are no longer secret. Over time I’ll spell them out.
Welcome aboard Kelvin – glad to see some more Labour MPs joining the blog.
I am curious to see how Labour manages “Maori issues” over the next couple of years – some interesting potential conflict between trying to destroy the Maori Party and at the same time potentially make friends with them so that if Plan A (destruction) doesn’t work, then Plan B (get them to help you form a government in 2011) might.
Look forward to hearing your ideas on education for ‘children’, especially those who comprise a ‘tail of underachievement’
But really, was the correct approach not pursued by the previous Government over the course of 9 years?
And if it was, where are the results?
Hey Kelvin,
My thoughts were similar to what Baz said – if we can see significant lifts in such a short time – why do we have the problems that we have today?
You say that the secrets are no longer secret – is this a new thing? Were they still secret secrets when Labour were in government?
Kia ora Kelvin
Good to see you on here. I think that Maori Labour MPs (aswell as Metiria Turei) can pick up the ball and run against the Maori Party.
The Maori Party in the last election said that it was about “he tangata”. Yet if you look at their record with the National-led government, they have done very little to improve conditions amongst Maori people.
The only thing that is of significance is taking a stand on the Auckland Maori seat issue. The Foreshore and Seabed Amendment doesn’t count – National is only going along with it so that they can have it deregulated to sell to big corps. And as for the Maori flag I think that it is a good idea, however I get the idea that Maori are probably more concerned about other things, such as the economy. There would be Maori that couldn’t give a damn what kind of flag we have on Waitangi Day.
Hone Harawira made a bold statement about the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, saying that it was the flag of our people. How does he know that every iwi is supportive of the Tino flag? I think there will be some iwi that aren’t.
Tena koe jarbury, thanks for your comment. I believe the best approach with the Maori Party is to compliment them when they do good, and hold them to account when they talk rubbish.
The flag issue is a good case in point. I like the thought that a Maori flag will fly from the harbour bridge. Good on them for getting the debate going. The down side of that is, the 4 options are a joke. The NZ Flag and the red ensign have no show, the ‘Busby’ flag is associated with a real fringe element so that just leaves the ‘Tino’ flag. A Clayton’s choice. They should have included a 5th and 6th option – Option 5: ‘other’, Option 6: Ngati Whatua decide since the bridge is in their patch. Also Ngati Whatua decide the days the flag is flown during the year, just as I believe Ngapuhi should decide the flag to be flown from the flagpole at the Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day, and any other day of the year. The Maori Party have engineered an outcome and have successfully manipulated the people. They need to be held to account, especially when I hear (albeit unsubstantiated) that the cost for the 21 hui was around $100K. I think with just 4 options they should have held a postal ballot of say 5000 randomly selected voters on the Maori Electoral Roll at a cost of maybe $10-15K.
Kia ora Baz, thanks for you comment/ question. The previous Labour government started down the right path. Education had more direction and focus under them. Not that I agreed with everything they came out with, and there is still a long way to go.
At my previous school we raised achievement from 4% of students meeting an achievement benchmark (in one area we assessed) in 2001, to over 80% meeting the benchmark in 2007. What I will spell out over further posts is how that was achieved.
We have the problems because not everyone in education has bought into the solutions. I’ll elaborate over time.
Were the secrets secrets when Labour were in government? No they weren’t and Labour had made a start on focusing on what was important. Changes in education take a long time to imbed and are met by huge resistance by many in the sector.
Thanks for the reply, however you haven’t really answered the question with specifics. And my question was posed somewhat tongue in cheek for the reasons which follow.
A big topic I know, and the political machinery as I see it is disastrous, cumbersome and divisive. Much like the educational sector and the resistance you mention. Core issues are not addressed holistically.
Add to this the mix of race issues where it seems that it is Maori vs the rest, and where we seem to have a never ending process of lurching from one policy decision to the next within successive administrations, is it no surprise that the general public become somewhat blasé and cynical?
Have just read your maiden speech to Parliament, impressed.
Surely is a challenge for you and other motivated clear thinking individuals regardless of party affiliations, to ensure any approach taken is consistent, inclusive and clearly understood as an approach which can serve those who are most in need, as well as serving the needs of all.
Tena koe, The Maori Party speak for the Maori Party, not the Maori people. Their politics are lazy. They will say something outrageous but with little substance that swings the spotlight onto themselves for long enough for some Maori to think they are doing something.
Sharples comments about opening up University for all Maori was an example of lazy politics. Now don’t get me wrong I want Maori to attend university and I want to remove the barriers that prevent this from occuring. The problem Sharples said, lies in the lack of Maori achievement at secondary school. His shallow solution is to move the problem onto universities. Lazy. That’s not a solution. That’s a bigger problem dressed up to be a solution. My solution is to fix the problem at the source and this to raise achievement at secondary school. But in order to do that you have to know what to fix and how to fix it.
Many Maori will interpret his statement as him fighting for Maori. They do it well.
I interpret it as an Associate Minister of Education being devoid of solutions. I’ll try to address over time some of the other ’solutions’ that Sharples is coming up with. If I think they’ll work, I’ll say so. If I think they won’t work, I’ll hold him to account.
I was impressed by how you questioned Sharples on that tertiary education matter. Clearly it is Labour’s job to critique what Maori Party MPs are doing – particularly Sharples & Turia as they are Ministers.
I just hope that behind the scenes there is progress made on forming a better relationship with the Maori Party in the longer run. The Auckland Super-City issue is one where Labour & the Maori Party should work together.
Kelvin
What an excellent first blog. Hope you’ll rival Trev for the most comments! I know your posts will be thoughtful and interesting, and maybe a bit cheeky sometimes. And you bring the depth of your knowledge, experience and passion for education.
Kia ora Baz
Depending which stats you look at achievement did rise under Labour, but they didn’t rise as much as they could have, and over time I’ll get to the reasons why that was the case.
Kia ora jarbury
The whole point over the Sharples questioning is to keep coming back to what (I believe) is most important to Maori – jobs and education. Jobs, so we can put food on our kids tables, roofs over their heads and clothes on their backs. Education, so that we can get decent jobs and put nutricious food on our kids tables, comfortable roofs over their heads and flash clothes on their backs.
Pita’s focus is on symbolism and emotion. Lazy politics because no one is expected to think. But they do it well and it works for them – for now.