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Principals warn Education Ministry instruction on school opening hours ‘not feasible’

Published

1 year ago

June 25, 2025

Secondary principals warn they cannot work with new Education Ministry guidelines that set a higher bar for deciding if schools are “open for instruction”.

The ministry recently told schools they would not be considered “open for instruction” if only some year groups were present, or they were only providing supervision.

Secondary principals told RNZ it was a serious problem because many secondary schools had a staggered start to the school year, bringing different year groups back on different days, and most allowed their senior students to study from home during secondary school exams at the end of the year.

Secondary Principals Association Louise Anaru said if those days were not counted as “open for instruction”, schools would not be able to find enough days in the year to operate.

The ministry had told schools to continue with their usual practices this year but the new interpretation would apply next year.

Asked by RNZ why the change was required it said: “While the regulations have not changed, the guidance has been developed to support consistent teaching and learning across the school system, making sure all students receive the minimum guaranteed time they are entitled to each year.

“Further guidance is being developed to provide clarity for secondary schools around end-of-year arrangements and exam-related closures.”

The ministry did not say whether schools had been misinterpreting the rules and opening for too few days each year.

The rules around school opening were based on half-days – periods of two hours or more in which the school was open.

Schools had to be open for one half-day before noon and one half-day after noon each day of the school term.

Primary schools must be open for at least 382 half-days and secondaries for at least 376 half-days, and no schools could be open for more than 402 half-days.

Anaru said the ministry’s guidelines would have a big impact on secondary schools.

“We have sought legal opinion on it which also concurred that it just wouldn’t be possible for secondary schools to comply with these new guidelines.

“There’s not enough days in the year to be open for instruction using these new guidelines and really it would just create a very confused situation for schools.”

She said the association’s legal advice was that the ministry’s interpretation was wrong.

“The ministry’s guidelines do not comply with the open for instruction requirements as part of the Education Act. It’s an interpretation which is just not feasible for schools to implement,” she said.

Anaru said the association had not discussed whether to take legal action.

Burnside High School principal Scott Haines said the new directive would have a huge effect on every secondary school in the country.

“The new interpretation will have a seismic impact on both how this school, Burnside High School, operates and on how I think probably just about every other secondary school in New Zealand will operate because it represents a very different position and interpretation than has been the custom and practice for as long as I’ve been in education, which is now 25 years.”

Haines said a staggered start to the year was essential for a big school like Burnside.

Under the new rules that would have to stop, or count as days outside the normal school year – but that would mean using some of the 10 days a year that teachers could be called back to schools when they were not open for instruction.

“We’re already leaning on those days with events such as parent interviews in the evenings, open evenings… so there’s already a significant call on that resource. If the sense is that we need to rely more heavily on that then we’re going to need more days in the collective agreement,” he said.

The guidance to schools also said teachers’ collective agreements required unions to work with school boards to ensure schools remained open for instruction during paid union meetings.

NZEI national secretary Stephanie Mills said its members recognised closing primary schools had a significant effect so it arranged its paid meetings accordingly.

“We don’t believe the situation with paid union meetings is even relevant to that guidance that the ministry’s issued about ‘open for instruction’. There’s no change to the legislation in terms of their rights under the Employment Relations Act to paid union meetings and so we’re just going to continue with business as usual,” she said.

rnz

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz