Hamilton MP promoted
Labour Leader Phil Goff has promoted me to Labour's front bench to take on responsibility as Education Spokesperson.
I have kept the portfolio of early childhood education, so I can continue to lead the fight against funding cuts to the sector.
Hamilton has a strong education sector and I look forward to working with parents, educators, and education professionals from Hamilton and nationally.
The ECE portfolio has been high profile ever since I unearthed the Government’s plans to cut funding for early childhood education prior to the budget in May 2010.
My place on the front bench has me placed well within the ranks of Labour’s shadow cabinet as we work towards this year’s general election.
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Hamilton rally for early childhood education
On Saturday, April 9 Hamilton gets its turn to stand up for children. There will be a peaceful rally against the Government’s funding cuts to early childhood education.
The funding cuts affect around 40 centres in Hamilton where 1700 children are enrolled. The Government’s actions are forcing centres to increase fees and this is hurting many Hamilton families who are already struggling with GST increases, petrol prices, higher doctors’ fees and food prices.
The protest rally will be held at Garden Place at 9.30am for a 10am march.
This is a family event and has been organised by early childhood educators.
For the record: Labour will reinstate ECE funding cut by National. Kids deserve the best start possible. That means quality education, and qualified teachers.
Leadership needed on Maungatautari
Nanaia Mahuta and I are requesting that the Government intervene in the stand-off over the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust.
We are concerned that this issue may go down a path that drives a wedge between a community who have significantly contributed to creating a pest free reserve that adds yet another attraction to the tourism and recreation footprint for the Waikato Region.
We have written to Minister for the Environment, Hon Nick Smith, seeking his involvement.
There has been considerable investment by the NZ taxpayer, local ratepayers, trust members, and volunteers as well as local landowners in building up the ecological island. The current dispute threatens the environmental gains made by those investments and the Government needs to provide some leadership.
Local reports indicate that there are more people who want to see a co-management arrangement that puts Maungatautari mountain first, rather than vested egos. Leadership will require people working together.
The Labour Government put in $5.5m to complete the fencing required to keep pests off the mountain and we felt assured that there were good relationships between local iwi and the trust at that time. The current Government should not tolerate threats from individuals to tear that fence down and undo all that has been achieved to date.
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