Hon Paula Bennett MP - National News

Press Release - More ECE for South Auckland - about time

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:01:41 +1300

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

More ECE for South Auckland - about time

National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett, is welcoming a first step towards boosting early childhood education (ECE) participation in South Auckland, but asks why it’s taken so long for Labour to act.

She is commenting on a proposal to build facilities for ECE services at nine schools in South Auckland.

“Research proves that some form of participation in ECE leads to more positive outcomes for children at school.

“National has long held concerns about low ECE participation rates in some areas, particularly among low-income families. Too many children continue to be locked out of ECE.

“Labour has failed to address this problem over the past nine years. The 20 Hours policy addresses some issues but it has not resulted in big increases in the number of children going to ECE services.

“Today’s half-baked solution, 17 days before an election, looks like little more than a last-gasp effort.

“National’s policy is to boost participation in ECE by working with community groups, private centres, home-based providers, and local government to develop local solutions that best meet the early childhood needs of our communities.

“We support plans to invest government funds to provide facilities for ECE services at selected schools, but we are sceptical about Labour’s commitment to this proposal.

“I note that the nominated schools have yet to agree to the Ministry’s ideas, no one knows who is going to run the facilities, and there is no mention of involving community groups that are in touch with local families.

“National will work closely with these schools, local ECE providers, and community groups to ensure boosting South Auckland children’s participation in ECE becomes a reality –not just an election-year ploy.”

Press Release - National calls halt to new early childhood regulations

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:34:01 +1200

Press Release- Survey: Labour’s 20 Hours Free is costing parents

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:54:00 +1200

Anne Tolley MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

Paula Bennett MP

National Party Associate Education (Early Childhood) Spokeswoman

Survey: Labour’s 20 Hours Free is costing parents

National’s assertion that Labour’s 20 Hours Free ECE policy is a fraud has been proven true today with the release of a survey showing almost half of the centres taking it up are charging parents for the privilege.

The survey, by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), validates National’s policy of removing the ‘free’ from the initiative and simply calling it 20 Hours ECE.

National’s Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley, says: "The ‘free’ part of Labour’s policy has always been misleading. National changed the name because it wants to be honest with parents".

The survey says: ‘Forty-six percent of education and care centres, two of 10 home-based schemes, and 18 percent of kindergartens asked for optional charges. Many charged for excursions. Education and care centres were also likely to charge for additional staffing (above regulated ratios) and resources.’

Paula Bennett says: "Despite Labour’s rhetoric, this scheme has never been free. National is not only injecting honesty into the scheme, it is expanding it and enhancing it.

"We will make it more available to children by allowing kohanga reo and playcentres to take the scheme up.

"We will make it more flexible by removing the 6-hours-a-day limit, allow five-year-olds to be eligible, and investigate more frequent payment methods.

"And we will do all this without removing existing subsidies and fee controls.

"Labour has been dishonest and inflexible over early childhood education.

"We intend to put that right."

Press Release - National promises fair go for gym crèches

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:00:00 +1200

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

7 August 2008

National promises fair go for gym crèches

National will scrap rigid new regulations that Labour is bringing in for gym crèches, says National’s Associate Education (Early Childhood) spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

Under Labour’s new rules, which will come into effect on 1 December, gym crèches and other ‘limited attendance centres’ will be required to provide ‘a range of learning opportunities’ and follow a strict curriculum. They will also require written ‘sleep logs’ to be filled out, and one trained staff member for every four children.

"This legislation is over the top and will force even more gym crèches to the wall. Already dozens have had to close and Fitness New Zealand estimates the new law will result in only 12% of gyms continuing to offer child-minding facilities.

"Everyone understands that a child’s wellbeing and safety must be paramount, but Labour manages to strangle even the simplest concept with unnecessarily restrictive red tape.

"Parents do not need a written report card on the ‘learning experiences and opportunities’ of their four year old while they spend 60 minutes doing an aerobic class – they would be happy just knowing their child was in a safe environment nearby.

"This is typical Labour. Parents don’t want the new rules and have told Labour. Gyms don’t want the new rules and have told Labour. But, once again, Labour thinks it knows best, and forges ahead.

"National trusts parents to make the best choices for their children. That is why we will rescind these onerous and unnecessary regulations at the earliest opportunity and replace them with rules that recognise that simplicity and common sense are almost always best."

Press Release ECE policy: Your family - your choice

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:00:38 +1200

Anne Tolley MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

Paula Bennett MP

Associate Education Spokeswoman (Early Childhood)

ECE policy: Your family - your choice

National today released details of its early childhood education policy, which includes retaining but improving the 20 Hours scheme for three- and four-year-olds.

National Party Education spokeswoman Anne Tolley says, “While we will keep the scheme, it will be renamed ’20 Hours ECE’, instead of ’20 Hours Free’, which was patently misleading. We will retain all the existing subsidies and fee controls. But we will also make the scheme much more flexible for parents.”

Paula Bennett says, “Thousands of parents are now using 20 Hours and we do not want to cause them uncertainty, especially in these challenging economic times. However, we will not live with the clearly dishonest claim of the scheme being free for parents. It never was.

“What we will do is improve the scheme to make it much more flexible and available to more children, while giving parents the freedom to choose which facility best suits them.”

National will:

· Remove the six-hours-a-day limit.

· Include play centres and kohanga reo in 20 Hours ECE.

· Provide 20 Hours ECE to five-year-olds.

· Investigate more frequent payment methods.

Staff ratios, reducing bureaucracy, and boosting participation rates are also key parts of the policy.

“To combat teacher shortages we plan to promote working while training, allow qualified English-speaking foreign teachers to qualify after an intensive six-week programme, and allow Montessori, Steiner, and play centre qualifications to count towards a diploma.

“Staff ratios for under two-year-olds are critical. We believe the current 1:5 ratio is too high. We do not think one person will always be enough to ensure all five babies can be guaranteed the high level of attention they may need. Over time, we will reduce that ratio to 1:4.

“We will also ensure that, after 2012, sessions for the under-twos in teacher-led early childhood centres are staffed by at least 50% qualified teachers.

“Our policy backs parents. It recognises that parents, by and large, will make the right decisions for their children.

“This policy gives them the flexibility to do that.”

Inquiries: Anne Tolley 021 915 916/Paula Bennett 021 989 589

For policy summary visit: http://www.national.org.nz/files/.___0_0_education_ece.pdf

Press Release - Gym crèches prepare for legislative lunacy

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:42:09 +1200

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

11 June 2008

Gym crèches prepare for legislative lunacy

New rules for crèches in gyms and swimming pools mean children can attend these centres for up to only two hours a day and for no more than six hours per week, says National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

"After gyms throughout the country faced closure because of over-zealous bureaucrats, Labour is addressing the problem by bringing in yet another new regulatory regime for what they call ‘limited attendance ECE centres’."

"Come on. When is commonsense going to kick in? Where does Labour get off telling parents they can exercise for only three days a week - which is what the six-hourly limit effectively reduces them to?

"Exercising with your child nearby has never been so complicated. Gyms will also have to deal with unclear adult/child ratio issues and health and safety requirements.

"Everyone understands that a child’s wellbeing must be paramount, but Labour manages to strangle even the simplest concept with unnecessarily restrictive red tape.

"Parents want to exercise knowing their child is safe nearby.

"A battalion of bureaucrats committing legislative lunacy is unlikely to be the quickest or simplest route to that goal."

Press Release - ECE licensing to be simplified under National

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:57:56 +1200

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

ECE licensing to be simplified under National

National will ditch the need for early childhood education centres to obtain a second licence if they cater for more than 50 children says National’s Associate Education (Early Childhood) spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

"It is nonsense that centres face this level of unnecessary bureaucracy. The double up on reporting, paperwork and ERO requirements is just ridiculous.

"We don’t want 100 kids running around in a huge room falling over themselves, but there are sensible ways to ensure the space is well used without insisting on a second license.

"Labour’s insistence that a centre must split itself in two and double up on all resources and play equipment just makes no sense.

"It is these kinds of ludicrous rules that typify this Government. They create a deluge of rules that weigh businesses down under a mountain of unnecessary paperwork.

"National will ensure that the safety of children is paramount in ECE centres with more than 50 children, but we will put measures in place that do not insist on two licences.

"Early childhood education should be about educating and caring for children in a safe and welcoming environment. It should not be about constantly struggling to administer endless and pointless regulations."

The Independent Financial Review, Political hound dog goes hunting in the House

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:38:00 +1300

The Independent Financial Review

— BUSINESS — 23 JAN 2008 — Page 6

Political hound dog goes hunting in the House

National MP Paula Bennett needs her hard-earned thick skin to deflect the barbs of her political enemies, reports Tim Donoghue .

Of all first-term MPs, National Party Auckland list MP Paula Bennett is the one Labour MPs dislike the most.

With Bennett, what you see is what you get and Labour's female MPs in particular don't like what they see in the woman who proudly proclaims herself Maori and European.

Raised at Kinloch on the northern shores of Lake Taupo, the Auckland- born Bennett was the only girl in a large family of boys.

The Bennetts of Kinloch were recreational fishermen and hunters and Bennett remembers being deeply insulted when her parents proudly presented her with a sewing machine for her 13th birthday.

"We always had pig dogs out the back. My brothers all had guns for hunting and I wanted a gun. The last thing I needed was a sewing machine," Bennett recalls.

She's come a long way from the lapping waves of Kinloch Bay to the backbenches of Parliament. Hers is a rags-to-riches solo-mum story based on self-responsibility and hard work while raising daughter Ana.

Confronted by the view she is the most disliked of all the new National MPs in Parliament by Labour MPs, Bennett just laughs.

"It would suit them for someone like me to be vulnerable. . . to be in need and, by gosh, to do the best I can and maybe I'll make it to supervisor one day.

"I fundamentally believe anything is possible. Don't hold me down. You do not know what could happen for the thousands out there like me. So continue to tell us we're in need. Continue to tell us we have to be frigging unionised. That is the mentality you will get. That suits that Labour government perfectly," she says.

Bennett is a woman who grew up with a picture of 19th-century Maori King Tawhiao on the wall and she is hard to categorise.

She says she grew up with a strong sense of self-responsibility and a sense a person is master of their own ship.

"The true measure of a person is not how he or she handles himself or herself day-to-day but perhaps more important, how he or she deals with adversity and the many challenges life seems to throw our way."

Life threw a number of challenges Bennett's way from an early age.

"Like many other strong and outspoken teenagers I took an unfortunate turn in my teenage years and found myself mixing with the wrong people and making some poor decisions.

"As a consequence, more than 20 years ago I found myself an uneducated, unemployed, young solo mother with very few opportunities ahead of me, but I also had a strong sense of self-responsibility."

That saw Bennett working the night shift at the Stag Park truck stop on State Highway 5 outside Taupo to support her young daughter.

"I never really got enough sleep as I was working a half-job during the day as well."

The death in 1991 of older brother Mark in a freak oil rig diving accident in Indonesia was the catalyst that set Bennett on the road out of her subsistence poverty trap.

"He left me a little bit of money, enough to get me to Auckland. I managed to buy a car, and some furniture. He had always believed I could do something else and Taupo would be the downfall of me. He told me I needed to move away from Taupo to change my life. I suppose him dying catapulted me to make some changes."

Auckland presented a new set of challenges.

She and Ana moved into a Massey flat. Her first job was washing dishes at a Massey rest-home.

"I think rest-home workers are one of the most undervalued workforces in the country. I was working for $8.75 an hour. I washed dishes for about six or seven months and then they moved me into a therapy-type role," she recalls.

Bennett says she found her rest- home worker colleagues were an inspiration. They encouraged her to seek an education and she enrolled at Massey University's Albany campus.

"I was accepted into Albany as a mature student and quickly found myself involved in student politics. I was the first female student president at Albany and I was responsible for getting many services at the then new campus.

"These may seem like small accomplishments and in the scheme of it all they are, but they changed my life. They proved I could advocate on behalf of others, that sometimes with the right argument and the right pressure, commonsense just might prevail and I could make a difference."

Bennett found actually going to university was her biggest fear.

"Lecturers would be spouting off on sociology, psychology, social work and this sort of stuff. One day I sat there and I realised I know all this, this is just fancy names relating to the life I've lived. I always thought university lecturers with degrees were so much smarter. Yet once they started talking and you cut through it, you came to the conclusion, 'this is life'."

Just before graduating with a BA in 1997 the opening chapter in Bennett's political life materialised. She got a job as East Coast Bays MP Murray McCully's electorate secretary.

"I went to the interview not for one moment believing I would get the job and walked out knowing I had it. A sense of humour was probably important to him. Also I am a big advocate of 'don't pretend to be something you are not'.

"I don't pretend I have the level of understanding within the Maori community as a Pita Sharples or a Georgina te Heuheu."

As McCully's PA she wasn't just working with McCully, but with members of the wider National Party as well.

"I couldn't get over their absolute belief there is nothing you cannot do. These were people who had not had the sorts of barriers I had had as a teenage parent.

"Their belief in what you can do in the world is quite different than the belief I had gone in there with.

"You start feeding off that sort of stuff and very quickly anything becomes possible."

Bennett left McCully's office after a 30-month stint and headed into the private sector, where she worked initially as a recruitment consultant and then as a manager for a human solutions company.

After being shoulder-tapped by former National Party leader Don Brash she entered Parliament at 45th position on the National Party list in 2005.

She took a credible 33% of the party vote in the Waitakere electorate off the Labour electorate MP Lynne Pillay that year. Ten months out from the possible 2008 election date the now Henderson-based Bennett is already talking like a winner.

"I'm running the campaign like a winner. It's full on. Different list MPs run their offices differently. I'll see anyone who walks through my door regardless of political affiliation. I will help out anyone."

Interestingly, Bennett's electorate office is near Pillay's office in Glen Eden. "I could have gone to a more National area within the electorate. But I thought if you're serious about it, get into the job and get into the heart of it."

Bennett, blessed with a loud penetrating voice, is at her irritating best for the National Party in the parliamentary debating chamber.

She and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters are constantly at loggerheads with each other across the floor.

Both appear genuinely to enjoy the exchanges. Bennett certainly does, and isn't intimidated.

Watching her interact with Peters reveals a natural acceptance of the fact in that in politics, one must smash or be smashed in the debating chamber.

There's not much more life could throw at Bennett. She's seen it all already and gives the strong impression she will never be smashed, even when she's on the receiving end as she was during the debate on dog microchipping in 2006.

When the generously-built Bennett threw Peters an insult, Peters quickly retaliated: "In your case, they'd need more than one microchip, wouldn't they?"

It was water off a duck's back to Bennett. Peters, himself the product of a large Maori family, understands fully where Bennett has come from.

"I find the bully boy stuff quite amusing really. I think in the scheme of bullying men I've met in my life, Peters would barely rank in the top 20.

"If you don't know this place is going to be rough and nasty, well don't come here. I'm not a crocodile crier."

---------------

CAPTION:

Paula Bennett says she grew up with a strong sense of self-responsibility and a belief that anything is possible. SUPPLIED

TIMELINE

Paula Bennett

List member, National Party.

Parliamentary roles:

Member of education and science committee, associate spokesperson education (early childhood), labour and industrial relations. Liaison for the community and voluntary sector October 26 2005-December 1, 2006, associate spokesperson on welfare, October 26, 2005-December 1, 2006, member social services select committee, November 9, 2005-December 5, 2006.

Personal details:

Born 1969. Has one adult daughter. Urban Maori.

Education/qualifications:

Taupo-nui-a-tia College, BA in social policy.

Career:

Rest-home dishwasher, nurse aid. Worked in health, secretarial and tourism industries, administration manager, recruitment consultant, manager international human capital company. Worked in Murray McCully's electorate office.

Community activities:

Student president, Massey University, Albany, youth representative for Taupo Council, youth adviser and welfare representative.

Leisure activities:

Fishing, jazz, wine, socialising.

Press Release- ECE teacher shortage critical: centres face losing licences

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:29:00 +1300

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

28 December 2007

ECE teacher shortage critical: centres face losing licences

The deadline for early childhood education centres to have 50% of their staff qualified is just days away, but a critical teacher shortage means many will fail to meet the new standards, says National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

The Ministry of Education has decreed that early childhood education centres must meet the new requirement in order to have their licences renewed.

“Managers of early childhood education centres are at their wits end trying to find qualified teachers. There is such a severe shortage that one centre has spent more than $6,500 on advertising over 12 months and still cannot find qualified staff.

“Alison Clark, who runs two ‘Tickles’ ECE centres in the Bay of Plenty, needs to find seven qualified teachers by Monday. Even if by some miracle they did find teachers, there would be no possibility of meeting the Ministry’s requirements.

“Labour is suggesting some centres may be given ‘provisional’ licences to give them more time, but even if a centre qualifies for a provisional licence, the chances of finding a teacher in three months are almost non-existent.

“This is an untenable situation and the Ministry needs to exercise some compassion and flexibility.

“Having qualified teachers in our early childhood education centres is certainly ideal, but to rigidly enforce an impossible goal will be to the detriment of the whole sector and will inevitably lead to closures.

“Good centres should not be punished for a situation that is not of their making.

“It is children who will pay the cost.”

Press Release- Air quality debacle threatens ECE centres

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:41:00 +1300

Paula Bennett MP

National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

(Early Childhood)

18 December 2007

Air quality debacle threatens ECE centres

The astonishing saga that has seen Kidicorp’s Jump & Jive early childhood centre in Auckland remain closed since its official opening in March now threatens to see other schools and early childhood centres shut down, says National’s Associate Education (Early Childhood) spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

"Helen Clark opened Jump & Jive in a flourish of publicity in March – a remarkable staged photo op complete with stunt kids brought in especially for the occasion – yet interference from three Ministries has prevented 150 real kids ever getting the chance to use it.

"The Auckland Medical Officer of Health blocked the opening of the centre, citing concerns over air pollution from nearby roads. However, astoundingly, officials at the Education and Health Ministries admit they have no data to back up their fears, and no intention of commissioning any.

"Kidicorp, frustrated by the continual delays in getting a licence, despite repeated meetings with officials from the Ministries of Education, Health and the Environment, went ahead with their own air quality testing in August.

"This monitoring, done in the thick of winter which is the worst time for air pollution, proved there was no evidence the nitrous oxide levels were at a level detrimental to children.

"But this scientific monitoring was not enough for the Ministry of Health – they now want to peer review the report. Meanwhile, Kidicorp continues to pay $25,000 a month in rent for an empty facility.

"This is beyond a joke, and should be a serious wake up call for other schools and early childhood centres within 500 metres of motorways and main roads. The three ministries concerned have already said that closing schools could be an option.

"Education Minister Chris Carter needs to clarify his Ministry’s position immediately. It is a simple question - are schools and early childhood centres at risk of closure on the whim of his and other Ministries, with no supporting scientific data? Will Auckland Grammar be next?"

Press Release- Volunteers’ contribution vital

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:45:00 +1300

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Community Programmes Spokeswoman

5 December 2007

Volunteers’ contribution vital

National’s Community Programmes spokeswoman Paula Bennett is congratulating the thousands of volunteers who make vital contributions to their communities.

“Today is International Volunteer Day, and it is a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the large number of people who give up their time voluntarily to work in a wide variety of sectors in New Zealand society.

“The contribution these people make cannot be under-estimated. Without them, some aspects of community life would simply fail to exist.”

Ms Bennett says National has always recognised the value of volunteers and has already announced a range of measures which promote the growth, ingenuity, and vitality of community groups.

These include:

All payments that reimburse volunteers for actual and reasonable expenses will be tax-free, regardless of the amount of the payment.
Honoraria payments will be tax-free up to an amount of $500 per year, per person.
Reducing compliance costs for community groups.
Investigating a venture capital fund for community organisations.
Removing the cap on personal tax rebates for charitable donations.

“National recognises that volunteer groups build a greater sense of belonging and a shared pride in our communities. We want to promote a culture of generosity and volunteering in New Zealand.

“Labour sneeringly called National’s policy ‘Tory charity’, but proceeded to quietly copy it.

“Unlike the Government, we won’t treat volunteers as cheap labour. National will also look at full-cost funding for non-profit organisations which provide certain services. Currently, these groups are often short-changed in Government funding and need to find the shortfall themselves.

“Congratulations to all those groups that are already making an invaluable contribution to society.”

Ends

Inquiries: Paula Bennett 021 989 589

Press Release- Teachers’ council in dark over failed teachers

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:07:00 +1300

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

2 December 2007

Teachers’ council in dark over failed teachers

News that the Teachers’ Council has no idea how many graduate teachers have been denied registration should be ringing alarm bells, says National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

In answer to a written question on how many teacher graduates have been denied registration by the Teachers’ Council since 2005, Minister Chris Carter said: ‘Apart from those who do not meet the Teachers’ Council standard for police vets, the Teachers’ Council cannot easily identify the number of teacher graduates who have been denied provisional registration.’

“The Minister is either admitting the Teachers’ Council is not doing its job by keeping track of registrations, or admitting that all graduates are fit to go into a classroom as long as they pass a police check.

“If it’s the latter, we should all be concerned that there is no assessment of the quality of that teacher’s training. There have been issues identified with initial teacher training and the Teachers’ Council should be the first to identify them.

“We know there is a massive shortage of teachers, particularly in Auckland, but this is no reason to let standards slip by turning a blind eye to graduates who don’t come up to scratch.”

Ends

Press Release- are Sunday schools safe? Yes or No, Minister.

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:42:54 +1300

Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman
(Early Childhood)

13 November 2007

Are Sunday schools safe? Yes or no, Minister.

It’s time for Chris Carter to give an unequivocal assurance that Sunday schools and gym crèches are going to be safe from the meddling of his Ministry, says National’s Associate Education (Early Childhood) spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

“His officials have already wrecked the exercise regimes of hundreds of parents by closing the crèches in 10 gyms because they didn’t comply with stringent licensing regulations.

“Chris Carter has admitted that Sunday schools breach the Education Act as well because they have unlicensed people supervising more than three children, but he says his officials won’t close them.

“However, last week he denied that the blanket application of these ridiculous laws was responsible for the closure of the 10 gym crèches, which will come as a huge surprise to the former Minister, Steve Maharey, who supplied me with a list of the crèches. We have now discovered another two gym crèches in Wellington have also closed.

“Gym crèches and Sunday schools are baby sitting services. They are not, and were never intended to be, licensed early childhood education centres.

“Chris Carter cannot hide behind the ‘review’ of this legislation any longer. That review has been going on for five years with zilch results.

“A month ago, I wrote to Steve Maharey asking for a moratorium on any further closures while this mess is sorted out.

“It’s a simple question, Minister. Are Sunday schools and gym crèches safe from this ridiculous red tape?

“Yes or no.”

Press Release- Chris Carter is dissembling

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:36:00 +1300

9 November 2007

New Minister should clarify answers

National Party Associate Education spokeswoman Paula Bennett says Chris Carter is dissembling.

“Only a couple of days into the job and he is trying to back away from Labour’s unpopular policy to close Sunday schools and other child minding services, like crèches at gyms.

“If the brand new Education Minister has changed Labour’s policy on regulating all child minding services, he should make that position clear. According to official answers, Sunday Schools are in the gun.”

Ms Bennett is referring to media comments by the new Education Minister where he confirms that ‘the Education Act requires that early childhood centres, for the education of three or more children under six years of age, must either be licensed or be premises of a kind exempt from licensing’.

“National has always recognised the difference between child minding and early education. Mr Carter obviously can’t tell the difference.

“What he might not know, is that I have asked multiple questions about this issue, and every one of the answers has been consistent. Labour says if a complaint is received about unlicensed baby sitting they will act.

“Labour’s instinct to regulate has been laid bare in the way they are planning to enforce these regulations. According to Mr Carter and Labour one size fits all.

“Responsible parents understand the difference between child minding, Sunday Schools, the crèche at the local gym, and early childhood education.

“Mr Carter’s latest statement on this issue suggests he does not.”

Ends

November 9 2007 The New Zealand Herald, Gym creches to get rules break

nospam@example.com (Staff) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:17:23 +1300

The New Zealand Herald
Gym creches to get rules break
5:00AM Friday November 09, 2007

The Government is looking at introducing a more flexible interpretation of rules that are forcing some creches in places such as gyms and swimming pools to shut.

Newly promoted Education Minister Chris Carter was yesterday questioned about the issue, which has sparked an 8000-signature petition to Parliament.

The petition was started by National MPs Nick Smith and Paula Bennett, and Sheila Scott at CityFitness gym in Nelson in September.Ms Bennett, who has complained about the new rules that require creches to be licensed if they care for more than two children, said previously that gyms and swimming pools around the country were closing their childcare facilities rather than go through the licensing process. When she raised the issue in September, then Education Minister Steve Maharey said the safety of children was paramount.

"Creches at swimming pools and gyms are able to operate if they are licensed, and this ensures that children are safe and are cared for by qualified staff," he said.

Yesterday, Mr Carter indicated a change in approach. The minister was asked if officials were looking at introducing some flexibility so that the rules applied to creches at gyms and swimming pools were not the same as those applied to full-time creches.

Mr Carter said the same rules were being applied across the board at the moment. "We are looking for some flexibility in that."
- NZPA