The Green Party welcome the dates set out for the next 30 years for the Matariki public holiday, but more must be done to embed this significant cultural period into our education.

The Green Party are calling for an expansion of the current school curriculum on Matariki, so that a deeper understanding of how it relates to managing and harvesting food is explored. This push comes at the start of the Matariki season, the final year before it is set to become a public holiday on 24 June 2022.

Green Party spokesperson for Education Teanau Tuiono welcomes the Government’s first step to implementing our own history into curriculum.

Every child deserves a high-quality, free, accessible public education that gives them the best possible start in life. We want all children to reach their full potential, but unfortunately, not all learners get equal opportunities and recognition. We know it’s not only the school system that affects a child’s education, but also housing, income, and health. Aotearoa has an unequal education system, where there is a difference between the haves and the have-nots, achievers and non-achievers. We must fix this...

The Green Party have secured legislative amendments in a bill expected to pass third reading this week, to ensure better rules for school teachers and staff, so they can de-escalate children with diverse needs and cognitive differences, such as autism, rather than using unnecessary and often traumatising force.

Click here for our 2020 Election Priorities for Education Our education system should give everyone the best possible start on a life-long journey that happens inside and outside the classroom. Every child is entitled to a high-quality, free, accessible public education that gives them the best possible start in life. Well-funded public education is the cornerstone of the education system State schools should be funded so they are not reliant on donations, fees, or fundraising. Public funding for private schools...

The Green Party is passionate about improving inclusive education services so that every Kiwi kid gets to fully participate in school life. In government, the Green Party will increase education funding by $315 million to build a more inclusive education system.  We will: Properly fund a full-time Children’s Champion for every 400 children to coordinate support for children with high needs (currently called a Special Education Needs Co-ordinator). Create a $5 million annual School Camp fund to support students with...

Click here for our 2020 Election Priorities for Tertiary Education Supporting students creates a fairer society and a stronger economy. Tertiary education can help drive the transition to a sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand. Tertiary education should be free Student fees should be capped and progressively reduced. The EFTS and PBRF funding models should be reviewed to ensure universities are adequately funded and incentivised to cooperate rather than compete. Funding should improve staff to student ratios, library resources, and staff retention....

The Government is delivering on its commitment to make streets safer for kids to walk and cycle to school, by reducing speed limits to a maximum of 40 km/h around urban schools and 60 km/h around rural schools.