Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill

I move, That the Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Education and Workforce Committee to consider the bill.

It’s a privilege and an honour to be able to bring the Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill to the House for its first reading. Firstly, though, can I mihi to the Hon Kiritapu Allan, as this is my first opportunity to speak in the House since the news of her wero. I want to acknowledge, as a newbie settling in, that Minister Allan showed tautoko, aroha, and guidance to our class of 2020. Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui e hoa.

Secondly, may I give gratitude and thanks to the Hon Jan Tinetti, who initially gave thought to the concept of removing barriers for parents and caregivers to ensure they are able to attend our educational hui, or meetings, with their tamariki kaiako, or teachers. It is a privilege to be able to take this important mahi forward.

This bill amends the Holidays Act 2003 to allow workers with tamariki up to four hours’ parent-teacher interview leave in each 12-month period of current continuous employment. Such leave may not be carried forward. Employers must be notified at least three working days before the leave is to be taken, and may not unreasonably withhold consent to an employee’s request for this leave.

We know that in many cases good employers already offer this leave to their employees. However, this bill will ensure that all parents have the opportunity to work in partnership with the educators to support the child’s educational success.

As it stands, there is a growing trend in having insecure and casualised workers. This makes it particularly difficult for parents and caregivers in those employment arrangements to take leave to attend their tamariki parent-teacher interviews. It is important to ensure all parents and caregivers have the same opportunity to be involved in their child’s education and to attend these important hui, and the amendments in this bill will ensure they will have this opportunity.

These hui are an important opportunity for whānau to discuss their tamariki’s academic progress. They are one of the few opportunities for these crucial discussions and provide a unique opportunity that allows for whānau and kaiako, or teachers, to support our tamariki’s growth. There is a larger social cost associated with not implementing this amendment, as tamariki and their whānau would not otherwise be able to work together for positive educational outcomes face to face.

Although we had a successful response to COVID-19, there was some disruption for children and their families. It is important that parents and teachers have the opportunity to discuss their child’s education and achievement and how they can be supported to reach their full potential. Further, these huis will give an opportunity to kōrero about how they are coping and learning and their social interactions at kura after the COVID-19 lockdown. It is widely known that one of the predictives of tamariki academic achievement is not how prestigious their kura is, but, rather, the engagement from home in their school lives, as well as tautoko and support and encouragement from their whānau.

As I’m sure this House is aware, our most vulnerable New Zealanders, including Māori and Pacific communities, are more likely to be our shift workers and our casualised and insecure workers, and, therefore, they are the most affected as the Act currently stands. The amendments in this bill will rectify this and give these workers the same opportunities as, for example, our nine-to-fivers, reducing the current inequality and allowing workers to attend these important educational hui.

I understand that some on the other side of the Whare feel prioritising paid time off work for workers to support their children, teachers, and schools, and ensuring good educational outcomes, is a price too high to pay. But may I add: the proposed cap to four hours per year on minimum wage would amount to $80 before tax. Even if either parents and caregivers both worked for the same employer, you’re talking about $160 before tax maximum per year proposed, and that’s if they use the whole four hours. I do not think that is a high price to pay to ensure we support whānau, tamariki, and great educational outcomes that will benefit society as a whole. But, again, the cost of not doing this is far too high in terms of not just educational outcomes but whānau, tamariki, and kaiako—teachers’—wellbeing, adding further to the poverty and inequality we see in Aotearoa.

Further, I also know that some people on the other side of the Whare may not have a realistic picture or have truly experienced how the other half live. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to take time off unpaid and not having to worry about an hour or two short in your pay packet so you can attend your parent-teacher interview. Many of our vulnerable whānau and communities, including our shift, insecure, and casualised workers, and Māori and Pacific, are not in this privileged position. Let me advise from experience that one or two hours unpaid for workers and their whānau can mean choosing between a bill or two that you can miss out or skip paying for this week, and then you can save worrying till next payday about how you’re going to catch up on these payments or these bills later, knowing that your tamariki has to come first.

I would add here that not a week after I was lucky enough to have the bill—[Interruption]

ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! I apologise to the member. Interjections are to be rare and reasonable. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to add here that not a week after I was lucky enough to have this bill pulled from the biscuit tin, the Green Party of Aotearoa wrote to me in support of this bill and the kaupapa. Likewise, Te Paati Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi have also written to me in full tautoko of this kaupapa and this bill. This is because those members in those parties also understand that the proposed four hours to ensure whānau, parents, and caregivers can get along to their parent-teacher interviews is a game-changer for many of our most vulnerable whānau, and ensures accessibility, opportunity, and equality for all tamariki to have the support they need to succeed in education.

So I’m really proud to be part of a Government who understands this and has a realistic understanding of the struggles facing our whānau, especially our vulnerable whānau, and schools and teachers, who are currently having to find creative ways to ensure they can get engagement and face-to-face time with whānau to kōrero about their tamariki’s academic outcome and identify any goals or areas that need further mahi or support. This can often mean teachers needing to go over and beyond. This could be, for example, having to do their weekends and knocking on whānaus’ doors, as that’s how important the face-to-face time with parents, caregivers, and teachers is.

This Government is taking views and steps to reduce poverty and inequality, especially for our tamariki. We know this means lots of mahi in unison, not pieces here and there, or making policy and legislation that benefits only the few. This Government is making policy and passing legislation for all, because we know that is what will make the real impact in reducing poverty and inequality in this country, further ensuring access and support to all New Zealanders. This Holidays (Parent-Teacher Interview Leave) Amendment Bill is just one part of this progressive Government’s plan to ensure all New Zealanders get to live their best lives. I look forward to seeing this bill through to the Education and Workforce Committee, where I anticipate changes—

Order! The time has come for me to leave the Chair. The House stands adjourned until 2 o’clock tomorrow.

The House adjourned at 10 p.m.