Explanatory note

The Bill proposes to introduce a new regulatory body for teachers to be called the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (EDUCANZ). This Supplementary Order Paper would change the name of the regulatory body to the ‘Teachers’ Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’. The purpose of this amendment is to reinstate the word ‘teachers’ in the name of the body, and to add an apostrophe to reflect the desire of teachers to have a sense of ownership over the body. Teachers, who fund the council, find the use of the word ‘education’ rather than ‘teachers’ both offensive and symptomatic of the Government’s agenda with this bill. The purpose of the council should be to manage the registration and deregistration of teachers. The term ‘education’ in the name appears to reflect a Government agenda to require teachers to fund functions for the new council that are not part of the core purpose of a registration body.