✨ Speech from the Throne
5698 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 199
21 DECEMBER 2011
Honourable Members. My Government believes that high-quality education is vitally important. It provides the opportunity for children from all backgrounds to make the most of their lives, and is an essential requirement for a skilled and productive workforce.
The Government’s focus will be squarely on raising achievement, in particular for those groups of students who have historically underperformed.
The Government will work to lift participation rates in early childhood education, with a target of 98 per cent of new entrants in school having previously attended an early childhood centre.
Performance measurement and accountability in schools will be strengthened. In addition, the Government will work to improve the quality of initial teacher education, introduce more effective appraisals of teachers and principals, and reform and strengthen the Teachers Council.
$1 billion from the Future Investment Fund will be invested over the next five years to build new schools and modernise existing buildings, including with new, 21st Century teaching spaces. It will be easier for schools to employ trades specialists to deliver courses, and to set up trades or service academies.
As agreed with the ACT Party, the Government will allow for the formation of charter schools in areas where educational underachievement is most entrenched.
Tertiary education providers will be funded in a way that takes into account their performance against indicators of achievement. It will continue to drive better value for taxpayers from the interest-free student loan scheme, including an expanded campaign to recover overdue debt from borrowers living overseas.
Honourable Members. My Government believes that a competitive economy, trading successfully with the world, is the best way to build sustainable economic growth that creates jobs and grows incomes.
The Government will restructure and expand Industrial Research Ltd into an advanced technology institute to work alongside the high-tech manufacturing and services sector. It will also invest in a series of national science challenges, in areas where science can address some of the most important longer-term challenges to New Zealand’s development.
The Government will continue its programme of investment in modern infrastructure. On current forecasts, $12 billion will be invested over the next 10 years in new State highways. The most immediate priorities will be the construction of the Waterview Connection and the completion of Auckland’s Western Ring Route.
KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan will continue to be supported and there will be an investigation into the use of Clifford Bay as a new sea freight terminal.
Ultra-fast broadband and the Rural Broadband Initiative will continue to be rolled out. A Crown-owned company will be established to invest in irrigation and water storage, drawing on the Future Investment Fund.
Next Page →
NZ Gazette 2011, No 199
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration21 December 2011
Speech from the Throne, State Opening of Parliament, Economic Policy, Fiscal Discipline, Welfare Reform, Mixed Ownership Model