This Supplementary Order Paper amends the Education Amendment Bill. The transition of governance from a partnership school kura hourua to a State school runs the risk of losing the kaupapa and individuality that is to be supported and encouraged within our schools, including in State schools. New subsection (6) would ensure that while the partnership school kura hourua will transition into the State school structure, the board of trustees will remain faithful to the initial kaupapa.

New subsection (7) is necessary as the transition from a partnership school kura hourua is a process where the Ministry of Education must respect the delicate nature of the shift. Appointing no Ministry of Education nominee to a governance role of a designated character school enables the Ministry of Education to bring partnership schools kura hourua into the State school structure while allowing the individual schools to retain an acceptable portion of independence and control.

New subsection (8) highlights that the tikanga of former partnership schools kura hourua has much to offer individual schools, even once they have been integrated into the State school structure. Provisions of this kind that will enable schools to retain staff on individual employment agreements outside of the teachers’ collective agreement accepts the unique nature of these schools. While still within the State system, this enables both the kaupapa of the individual school and the teachers that staff the school, and brings the integration of the school into oversight by the Ministry of Education.