Catherine Delahunty Archive

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  Schools should appoint their own principals - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I am concerned by media reports that the Ministry of Education is considering taking off boards of trustees the role of hiring their school’s principal. Rumours about such a significant proposal should not be swirling around in the media without a confirmation or denial from the Ministry. School boards and parents should be formally notified [...] read more
  December 19, 2011 7:42 pm - 9 Comments
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  Nasty surprise in Disability Commissioner bill? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Government has introduced legislation to establish the permanent position of Disability Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission – or has it? read more
  October 25, 2011 10:15 am - 1 Comment
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  Graduates and gender pay equity - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  A new study from the Ministry of Education shows in many occupations tertiary qualifications make very little difference when it comes to the gender pay gap. Four years after graduating, women earn on average $4380 less than men with the same qualifications. The only professions where this is not the case are the performing arts [...] read more
  September 15, 2011 12:15 pm - 7 Comments
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  Gender pay discrimination - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday’s Herald poll said 65% of women believed that there was discrimination against them at work simply because of their gender. The Employers and Manufacturers Federation (whose former CEO was Alasdair Thompson) have come up with a brilliant solution which no women would ever have considered. They say women should apply for high income jobs! [...] read more
  August 3, 2011 1:57 pm - 6 Comments
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  Will Alasdair Thompson’s “damage control” help close the gender pay gap? - by frog

  
  
  
  A Green-friendly employer and EMA member just sent me this (recipient details removed). I presume it has been sent to all EMA member employers today: If Alasdair Thompson has really had the epiphany he proclaims after a day to cogitate on the reaction to his outrageous comments, then perhaps he might like to reconsider the [...] read more
  June 24, 2011 5:58 pm - 34 Comments
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  Thompson makes case for Equal Pay amendment - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  OK, this video of Alasdair Thompson being interviewed by Mihingarangi Forbes is astounding. Watch it from about 22 mins in. His behaviour is evidence enough of why we need stronger laws around equal pay. 1. Thompson stands by the claim that women should be paid less than men because they take off more time because of [...] read more
  June 24, 2011 12:12 pm - 38 Comments
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  Miramar South School – Low Decile and High Quality - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  As the debate rages about the proposed merger of two Miramar schools I want to challenge the perception that these schools have a lower quality of education, teaching staff and student behaviour. For the past two years I have been a proud supporter of activities at Miramar South School, presenting books to students and attending [...] read more
  May 31, 2011 10:22 am - 2 Comments
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  Supporting positive parenting! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Professor Paul Moon has a curiously negative approach to the new initiative by Te Kahui Mana Ririki to encourage Maori parents to embrace a loving tradition of child raising. Te Kahui Mana Ririki spokesperson Anton Blank has made no romantic claims that pre European tangata whenua culture was always peaceful, but he is promoting some [...] read more
  May 31, 2011 10:05 am - 63 Comments
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  COGS grant scheme cut - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  One of the worst aspects of the “death by a thousand cuts” Budget is the cut to the Community Organisations Grants Scheme (COGS). read more
  May 27, 2011 12:14 pm - 5 Comments
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  National Standards – fake it till you make it? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Some school principals have revealed that they are getting some interesting advice from the Ministry of Education about how to incorporate the National Standards into their school charters. The suggestion that they should essentially fake it – by inserting the words “national standards” into their charters, even if they are not actively using them – [...] read more
  May 18, 2011 2:30 pm - 4 Comments
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  Saints or support workers? Rodney Hide on special education - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In the middle of his other troubles, Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide spoke at our Select Committee on Wednesday about the Review of Special Education. It was apparent that his 6 month journey with this portfolio has included some transformative moments, as documented in TVNZ’s Make the Politician Work. He has been open about the [...] read more
  May 5, 2011 5:21 pm - 2 Comments
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  Quality public education – a public good - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I spent the weekend at the Quality Public Education Coalition (QPEC) Conference in Auckland. This conference had the strongest turn out of people from every level of the public education sector since I have been attending. There were powerful presentations from people active in early childhood issues, the compulsory sector and the tertiary sector. Everyone [...] read more
  May 3, 2011 1:25 pm - 7 Comments
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  Autism awareness breakfast - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  World Autism Awareness Day falls on 2 April each year, but as that was on a weekend, we held a breakfast to acknowledge it during the week in Parliament. It was an honour to be asked by Autism New Zealand to host the event, which was well attended by MPs from across the political spectrum. [...] read more
  April 14, 2011 11:00 am - 5 Comments
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  Roger Awards - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last night Green MP Keith Locke and myself attended the Roger Awards, an annual event which “celebrates” the worst multinationals affecting Aotearoa/New Zealand. Chief Judge of the 2010 awards Christine Dann  and her team of supporting judges awarded first place to the utterly deserving Warners Bros for their interference in both the political system and [...] read more
  April 5, 2011 3:42 pm - 4 Comments
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  Bullying in schools - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This is a very old and a painful issue for many people. I was bullied in my primary school and I bet most people reading this have either witnessed or experienced bullying in schools. The issue of what to do with persistent bullies sounds simple: kick them out! But it’s not as simple as it [...] read more
  March 30, 2011 4:48 pm - 36 Comments
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  Community-led development – good news from the grassroots! - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I had two very positive days last week meeting with community sector groups in Porirua and in Nelson. It was great to hear some positive stories from people who are leading change in these places, and to realise how much great work is going on despite the recession, the Government and the hard times since the earthquake. read more
  March 21, 2011 2:10 pm - 3 Comments
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  International (Working) Women’s Day - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Today is the day we salute the efforts of women everywhere for equity and justice for our gender and as workers. This year, our hearts and thoughts start and finish with women in Christchurch. I spent the weekend door-knocking on the streets of Aranui, Wainoni and New Brighton which are all low-income areas hit hard [...] read more
  March 8, 2011 2:56 pm - 7 Comments
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  Door To Door in Christchurch - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  A woman is standing alone watching her neighbours packing mattresses into a trailer. She tells her children to hug the neighbour’s children. They’re moving permanently to Rotorua. The woman starts to cry as she tries to tell us how frightened she is at night in the dark street and now her neighbours have gone. I [...] read more
  March 7, 2011 10:27 am - 71 Comments
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  Advertising for a disability champion - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I’m delighted to announce that the Human Rights Commission is now advertising the position of Disability Commissioner on their website. People with the relevant skills and passion for inclusion can now apply for the role. I am thrilled that my Bill contributed to this moment, and pleased that the Government has supported the immediate creation [...] read more
  March 2, 2011 9:10 am - 7 Comments
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  National Standards race to nowhere - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited our Parliament and promoted free trade agreements with all the fervour of the faithful. This position was predictable, but less well known is her stance on education. Julia is the leader who imposed the Australian version of National Standards on Australian schools against the wishes of the teachers’ unions. read more
  February 17, 2011 10:31 am - 21 Comments