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Tomorrow’s Schools Review terms of reference announced

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Tomorrow’s Schools Review terms of reference announced

The terms of reference for a review of Tomorrow’s Schools released today sets the framework for a once in 30-year opportunity to shape the way our schools are led, managed and interact with their communities, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.
 
“There’s been a lot of tinkering around the edges since Tomorrrow’s Schools was introduced, which has moved the governance, management and administration of schools further and further away from what it aimed to achieve. 
 
“This broad-based review gives schools, students and communities the opportunity to take part in drawing the blueprint for how schools should be organised from here on.
 
“It will look at how we can better support equity and inclusion for all children throughout their schooling, what changes are needed to support their educational success, and at the fitness of our school system to equip all our students for a rapidly changing world.
 
“The review will consider how schools might interact differently with their communities, with other schools, with employers, and with other government organisations, to serve the best interests of our young people.”       
 
An independent five-to-seven person taskforce will be appointed in April, which will consult widely before reporting back in November this year.
 
“The review is part of the Government’s championing of a high quality public education system,” Mr Hipkins said.
 
“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to be the best they can be, regardless of where they live, or their personal circumstances. And we want to ensure our schools deliver that opportunity for all New Zealanders.
 
“A key priority is for our schooling system will be to be more responsive to the needs of Māori and Pasifika children and those children needing learning support for whom the education system has not delivered in the past,” Mr Hipkins said.
 
The review will also consider the roles of the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, New Zealand Qualifications Authority, New Zealand School Trustees Association, and the Education Council in supporting schools.
 
The review of Tomorrow’s Schools is part of the Government’s education work programme, announced in February. The terms of reference for the review are available at www.education.govt.nz/tsr

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Police put organised crime under the microscope

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Police put organised crime under the microscope


Location:

Bay of Plenty

NZ Police are increasing efforts on reducing the harmful effects of organised crime on our communities with the establishment of a taskforce in Tauranga which will focus on organised crime and asset recovery in the Bay of Plenty area.
 
Police Commissioner Mike Bush says the taskforce is strategically based in Tauranga and underlines Police’s intent to help create safer communities by focusing on organised crime, methamphetamine production and importation, and asset recovery in the Bay of Plenty area.
 

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More than two million dollars worth of methamphetamine seized at the border

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: More than two million dollars worth of methamphetamine seized at the border


Location:

Auckland City

Police with the assistance of Customs have arrested and charged two people following the seizure of 13.5 kilograms of methamphetamine at Auckland International Airport.

The drugs, which have a street value of approximately $2.4 million, were brought into New Zealand concealed within heavy steel machinery.

Over the weekend the National Organised Crime Group executed two search warrants at Waikato addresses and a 22-year-old Waikato man was arrested and charged with importation of the Class A controlled drug Methamphetamine.

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Police investigating Wainuiomata homicide continue to appeal for information

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Police investigating Wainuiomata homicide continue to appeal for information


Location:

Wellington

Police investigating a homicide in Wainuiomata remain in the neighbourhood as inquiries continue into the death of 40 year old Paul TeHiko.

Police continue to search the area surrounding the scene where Mr TeHiko’s body was found late on March 7, assisted by specialists and search experts. The area remains cordoned off.

“We continue to door-knock residents in the area, and we are still urging locals and any witnesses to contact Police if they saw or heard anything late on Wednesday, March 7,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Sears.

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Hamilton Police investigate aggravated dairy robbery

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Hamilton Police investigate aggravated dairy robbery


Location:

Waikato

Hamilton Police are investigating the aggravated robbery of Emm Jay Dairy, on the corner of Brookfield and Grey Streets, this morning.
 
The robbery took place at around 8.30am, when two masked males entered the dairy armed with an axe and a machete.  
 
They approached the lone shopkeeper, striking him on the head and hands with the machete. 
 
They then stole cigarettes and cash from the store before leaving, heading south in a stolen silver Mazda Familia, registration FEP218.
 


Images(s):

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Assistance for Cyclone-hit Tasman and Taranaki

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Assistance for Cyclone-hit Tasman and Taranaki

Tasman and Taranaki residents struggling to clear up the mess left by ex-Tropical Cyclone Gita can access a helping hand following an announcement today by Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni.
“The Government is committed to ensuring these regions have the support needed to recover from the storm damage wrecked by Gita,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
“Today I gave the green light to activate Enhanced Taskforce Green, making up to $500,000 of funding available.
“We’ve been in regular contact with people on the ground, particularly the local Councils, Ministry of Primary Industries and the local Rural Support Trusts, and will continue to take stock of the situation as the clean-up continues.
“Five hectares of apple orchards in the Tasman District were completely destroyed by flooding silt and debris, the key focus will be on orchards needing silt cleared from around the trees and vines.
“So far ten orchards, mostly apple and Kiwifruit, have been identified as potentially needing support in some of the hardest hit areas. Not requiring specific skills or heavy machinery, these are perfect places for temporary workers to make a difference.
“We are also assessing a significant number of other properties and it is likely other work will be identified as the work proceeds.
“Enhanced Taskforce Green is a work programme that employs job seekers to assist with clean-up following emergency events. Anyone who needs support should contact the Tasman District Council.
“While the funding also covers the Taranaki Region initial reports indicate machinery and skilled work is mostly required – not appropriate for ETFG at this stage. However if suitable work is identified ETFG is available,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
 

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Clean Seas campaign is meaningless virtue signalling

Source: National Party – Headline: Clean Seas campaign is meaningless virtue signalling

Signing up to the United Nations (UN) Clean Seas campaign means little for New Zealand without accurate data, National’s Environment Spokesperson Scott Simpson says.

“We know there’s too much plastic litter in our huge marine environment but we really have no idea how much there is or where it comes from.

“New Zealand has stewardship of the fourth largest marine space on the globe but it’s unlikely the bulk of plastic in there actually comes from New Zealand.

“I’ve asked Parliament’s Environment Select Committee to conduct an Inquiry into marine litter in our Exclusive Economic Zone and I hope the Government will support it.

“Ministry for the Environment officials have said there is a lack of data regarding the extent to which New Zealand contributes to global plastic pollution via land and marine sources.

“Signing a feel good UN campaign is meaningless virtue signalling without accurate data about the problem. We all want to have less plastic waste in our ocean but if we are serious about reducing it we need to have a much better idea about what type of plastic it is, where it comes from, and in what quantity,” Mr Simpson says.

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Lumad people’s resistance – defending Indigenous communities

Source: Pacific Media Centre

Headline: Lumad people’s resistance – defending Indigenous communities – Analysis published with permission of PMC

Event date and time: 

Wed, 04/04/2018 – 4:30am – 6:00am

PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE SEMINAR 2/2018: INDIGENOUS LUMAD PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION, AUTONOMY AND DIGNITY

The Indigenous Lumad people’s Our Right to Education, Autonomy and Dignity (READ) Programme in the Philippines is rooted in the vision that every child deserves the basic human right of an education.

Today the majority of Lumad children in the southern island of Mindanao remain illiterate and have limited access to education.

Salupongan International is committed to sustaining culture-responsive basic education programmes and schools that help Lumad and Moro students and communities obtain a quality education.

SI currently supports hundreds of indigenous scholars, teachers and faculty from Salupongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Centers (STTICLC), Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) Academy and other community schools throughout Mindanao.  STTICLC and MISFI Academy has provided free, quality culture-responsive education to underserved indigenous, Moro and rural communities throughout Mindanao for over a decade.  

Two Lumad advocates visiting New Zealand will speak on the issues at the Pacific Media Centre seminar at Auckland University of Technology. Jointly organised by Philippine Solidarity, Asia Pacific Human Rights Coalition (APHRC) and the PMC.

Contact: Del Abcede

When: 4 April 2018, 4.30-6pm

Where: TBC

MIL OSI

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Our science advisor Dr Alison Collins

Source: Ministry for the Environment – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Our science advisor Dr Alison Collins

Dr Alison Collins is our Departmental Science Advisor.

Alison is focused on ensuring the best science is available, understood and used throughout the Ministry. She has already made good progress since she joined the Ministry last year with the formation of the inaugural Ministry Science Council – made up of Ministry staff who help Alison connect to and advance priority issues of science.

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NorthTec graduates celebrate their special day

Source: NorthTec – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NorthTec graduates celebrate their special day

Nearly 250 NorthTec graduates celebrated their special day with stirring ceremonies and a  joyful march through the centre of Whangarei.

Forum North was packed with the class of 2017, their families and supporters, and NorthTec staff at the two ceremonies held on Friday (9 March). All those graduating successfully completed diplomas, degrees and graduate diplomas.

At the morning ceremony, students from Business and Management, Information Systems,  Software Development, Applied Social Services, Cookery, Architectural Technology and Civil Engineering crossed the stage to receive their certificates and be capped by NorthTec Council Chair, Wayne Jackson.

The afternoon ceremony was for students of Applied Arts, Applied Writing, Sport and Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Management, Science, Māori Arts and Nursing.

In between the two ceremonies, the jubilant graduates set off from the Rose Gardens and enjoyed their march through town, cheered on by supporters and members of the public.

Wayne Jackson said it was wonderful to see so many whānau and friends supporting the graduates on their special day, and thanked them for all the help they had given.

Student valedictorian, Heleina Garisau, congratulated her fellow graduates for all their efforts and their success. She told them: “Our studies are complete and here we are on this auspicious day to celebrate one with another. I applaud you! It has not been an easy task.”

Heleina, a Bachelor of Māori Arts (Maunga Kura Toi), said: “As the graduating class we come from various backgrounds and we each have a unique back story. We are a diverse group of individuals with at least one thing in common… We all chose to attain our qualifications through NorthTec. Fellow students, I acknowledge each of you. We have all faced a variety of challenges to get where we are today.”

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