Allan Peachey has announced his retirement.
His health battles have been pretty obvious and he has made the call that he might not live through the next term of Parliament.
Allan and I had some famous battles when he was Principal of Rangitoto College, the country’s biggest school. He used school funds to lease a box at the local stadium and was a very public fan of bulk funding.
While we disagreed it was always clear that he ran a good school and worked in the best interest of students.
When he came to Parliament this approach continued. For a period he had the best technical knowledge of the administration of schools and often offered very valuable advice. I sat for a year on the select committtee he chaired. He did it well and fairly. While never forgetting his party he gave the opposition their say and adopted appropriate amendments where they helped legislation no matter who suggested them. He would have been a good Minister. Much better than the current Minister.
So I’m sorry he is going. Very sorry that he is so sick. I have offered to facilitate a valedictory and while it is unlikely that he will take up the offer I hope he will.
He deserves to say goodbye.
Now that is a very nice post congrats Trevor
Agreed Trevor. I came into Parliament with some pre-conceived ideas about Allan from his time at Rangitoto. I still find myself differing from him on some core educational issues, but I have a lot of admiration for his knowledge of education and his commitment to it. I particularly valued discussions with him on Special Education, where we had much more in common than not. I think he would have made a great Minister in this area. All the best Allan, Kia Kaha.
Trevor, you suprise me. You do know how to say a kind word.
Bar the comments regarding the current Minister, you’re bang on the money Trev.
I’ve been to the education select committee a few times this term and I agree that – from my perspective as a visitor and sometime submitter – he has chaired it well and fairly, and his knowledge of school administration has been valuable.
I suspect that Alan Peachey was frustrated by the government’s fondness for urgency this term and their under use of the select committee process. The poorly-thought-out and educationally-destructive saga of National Standards is a good example. After the bill was rushed through all its processes in less than 24 hours just before Christmas in 2008, I bailed up Alan Peachey in the local supermarket (poor guy) to complain. That is when he invited the NGO I was involved with to apply to the SC to make a submission on it, and although I am no longer involved that group still regularly reports to the committee. What a difference to the whole saga if NS had been subjected to a thorough SC examination before implementation, assisted by chair Peachey’s expertise in school administration and with other experts, such as Trevor, on the committee.
On you Trev, well said sir.
Anyone know why the guy wasn’t considered for Minister of Education. He may have been pro-bulk funding, etc, but at least the guy was qualified for the job..
I have to concur. His speeches in the house railing at we “socialists” were always lively and amusing. He was on the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee and stood up against the other Nats on a couple of occasions over petitions. I’m glad I got to have a word last night. Go well Alan.
Further to my post above. I remember reading that he was opposed to education vouchers as well…
Maybe it was health concerns, and dare I say age, that blocked his way into a portfolio – by the time he was ready for the promotion he was starting to ail. Note that in the end, he served just 2 terms in Parliament. (Does that mean he misses a pension?)
Going further, he was a politician that tended to stake his ground in issues in a public way (as well as behind the scenes no doubt) that may have gained friends and enemies, along the lines of a predecessor in Tamaki Rob Muldoon actually. Certainly not the style of Clem Simich. Was Allan Peachey always consistent in his line, at times he came over as a shock jock – a bit like the Murray Deaker of politics?
Also at times I thought that there was a bit of ACT about him; his provactive style was different from the average politician, and at times I thought we saw contradictions. I don’t think this put him on the fast track to cabinet – especially when we hear what a good job he did on the Science and Education subcommittee. Why would John Key have moved him?
Clearly he needs to look after himself, and pass this safe Electorate on. I heard a Parliamentary speech he gave on voluntary membership of Students Unions – it was a good speech too, but presumably there is a limit to what he can take on.
Looking at the MMP angle – it is interesting to reflect on claims that we can’t “get rid” of people off lists – when we see here that Electorate Committees can remain loyal to sitting MPs, even when the health of the MP may be as fragile as we have seen here. Let us all hope that the decision to stand down becomes his life line. A hard worker who deserves a rewarding retirement.