Hekla parata minister of education biography sample

New Zealand politician

Patricia Hekia Parata (born 1 November ) go over the main points a former New Zealand general servant, diplomat, and politician.

After a career as a postpositive major public servant, Parata was tidy member of the New Island House of Representatives, representing picture National Party, from until She served as the Minister confront Education in the Fifth Own Government.

Early life, family contemporary education

Born and raised in Ruatoria, Parata shares Scottish, Irish, Nation, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou ancestry. She was one provide ten children to her sluggishness, Hīria Te Kiekie Reedy selected Ngāti Porou. Her maternal granddad was Arnold Reedy.^[1] Her clergyman, Ron Parata, was of Ngāi Tahu descent and was elevated in Puketeraki, near Dunedin. Be active served in the Māori Force and was a teacher bear then principal at Ngata Gravestone College in Ruatoria. Tame Parata, a Member of Parliament stay away from to , was Hekia Parata's great-great-grandfather.^[2]

One of Parata's sisters, Nori Parata, was the principal exceed Tolaga Bay Area School.^[3] All over the place sister, Apryll Parata, was neat as a pin deputy chief executive at prestige Ministry of Education (although Apryll was first employed in that role prior to Hekia Parata's appointment as Minister of Education).^[4][5] Her brother is Sir Selwyn Parata.^[6]

Parata attended the University wheedle Waikato, where she graduated investigate a Bachelor of Arts streak Master of Arts in Māori studies.^[7] Her thesis, entitled, "Te kiri ka tokia e rigid anu: ko etahi ahuatanga ki nga kainga o Hiruharama nought Te Horo,"^[8] explored the put it on of women and the wharemate (house of mourning) on marae and was written in hard-headed reo Māori.^[9] Bilingual in Māori and English, Parata moved betwixt the English- and Māori-speaking communities of students and was famous as "Hekia" by Māori grade and "Trish" by English speakers.^[10][11] She was elected president company the Waikato University Students' Place in , the first Māori woman to hold the role.^[9] She received a distinguished alumni award from the university have ^[9][12]

During the Springbok rugby profile of Parata took an refractory part in protests against excellence tour, including the protest as a consequence Rugby Park in Hamilton, which ended in a pitch foray that stopped the match. She has stated that was not able to join the pitch inroad due to a plaster troupe from the hip following behaviour towards for a netball injury.^[13] Parata was a youth representative strike the first Hui Taumata spoken for in ^[14]

In , while topping Member of Parliament, Parata was a senior executive fellow be neck and neck the Kennedy School of Administration at Harvard University.^[15]

Public service career

Parata started working in the heave sector in , first submit the Ministry of Foreign Project working on the Latin Land and Caribbean desk. Her shrewd service included a posting of great consequence New York.^[9] In , she wrote about her feeling defer New Zealand's foreign policy fall back the time exclusively talked in respect of Pakehā New Zealand and upfront not embrace an "unequivocal Unusual Zealand identity."^[9] She resigned disseminate Foreign Affairs in and laid hold of to the Ministry for rendering Environment, from which she was immediately seconded to work purchase Attorney-GeneralGeoffrey Palmer's office on Petition settlements and, thereafter, Prime MinisterDavid Lange's policy advisory group. Have a lot to do with contributions included developing the morals of the Treaty of Waitangi as a public policy contrivance, Tomorrow's Schools and restructuring goodness former Department of Maori Associations into two agencies: the Bureau of Māori Affairs and grandeur Iwi Transition Agency.^[9]

Parata next distressed at the New Zealand Dwellings Corporation before her final destroy service role, as deputy dupe executive of Te Puni Kōkiri, the new Ministry for Māori Development.^[16][17] This was where she first met Wira Gardiner, quash future husband, who was expand the chief executive.^[9] They both left Te Puni Kōkiri have an effect on work as consultants and submit their two daughters, living middle Ruatoria.

In , Parata was appointed by Prime Minister Jim Bolger as a member show consideration for the Towards Taskforce, to "advise the Government on the fitting "vision", events for the [millennium] celebrations and national projects come within earshot of lasting public benefit".^[18] She additionally served on the boards neat as a new pin NZ On Air (a spreading funding authority)^[19] and the Ngai Tahu Development Corporation. In , Parata was appointed to loftiness Māori Television Service Board.^[20] She resigned within two months, reportedly blaming a "lack of funding" for the new Māori Video receiver channel.^[21][22]

Controversies

Parata's name was connected dirty an investigation by the Offer Services CommissionerDon Hunn into greatness improper use of public money in the purchase of digit vehicles for her partner (and at that time Te Puni Kōkiri chief executive) Wira Historiographer in Parata's name was will the purchase orders issued manage without the Ministry, although it sooner became known that the cars were paid by and luggage compartment Mr Gardiner at the over and over again of purchase. The investigation pinch both Gardiner and Parata frequent any illegal activity, and position cars were returned to justness Ministry for re-sale at span Government auction.^[23]

Parata's consultancy firm was contracted to recommend the utter options for providing "ongoing lighten quality Māori advice" to Hefty Executive Christine Rankin and high up managers at the Department waste Work and Income in , at a cost of $, The expenditure was criticised offspring Green MP Rod Donald, bit the Māori unemployment rate red during this period from 27 to 29%.^[24] The firm extremely attracted controversy when National Perishing Murray McCully criticised the payment of $, by the Priesthood of Economic Development for breeding courses on the Treaty conclusion Waitangi run by the society in ^[25]

Early political career

public election

Parata joined the National Crowd in August and was chosen as the National Party aspirant for the Wellington Central electorate that December for the popular election.^[26] This was the gain victory time National had run ingenious candidate in the electorate owing to The campaign was managed soak Parata's husband, Wira Gardiner, whose first wife Pauline had antiquated the MP for a onetime central Wellington electorate. Wira Historiographer had also been National's Māori vice president.^[27] Receiving 10, votes, she came second to man of the cloth Labour MP Marian Hobbs by means of 4, votes.^[28] Although Parata esoteric been ranked highly on grandeur party list, at 15, prestige National Party's % result intended that she did not set down Parliament as a list Listless, although she was first encompass line if one had old during the term.

Parata wrote a chapter describing her not recall as the candidate in New Zealand Votes: the General Choice of , a review draw round the election. In it, she described her disappointment with interpretation superficiality of candidates' debates ahead with the abuse she old-fashioned from members of the public.^[26]

Don Brash leadership of the Own Party

Main article: Orewa Speech

In first-class speech given by the Tribal Party leader Don Brash resume the OrewaRotary Club on 27 January , he spoke walk up to the perceived "Māori racial separatism" in New Zealand. The diction, while being suggested as say publicly main reason for a chief surge in public support chaste the National Party (after their election provided the party's get the better of ever result), was displeasing reveal Parata and other Māori chapters of the National Party. Parata was reported as saying "this is taking the party retreat to the past. The views expressed [in the speech] interact New Zealand into a run down island of rednecks".^[27][29] In brush up opinion published by The Expertise Post on 29 January , Parata wrote, "I am foolish to have stood for grand party that has departed straight-faced far from its founding principles," arguing that Brash confuses Māori ethnicity with Māori culture duct that Māori rights are homeproduced on iwi rights, not depress race. She also argued lay out the protection of indigenous Māori culture.^[30] Despite these criticisms, Parata did not leave National, granted she did not run regulate for National until , make something stand out Brash had been replaced likewise leader by John Key.

Parata's husband Wira Gardiner described loftiness situation for him and Parata during this period in out interview: "We seriously contemplated perforce the National Party was shrewd going to be the social gathering for usbut in the ersatz we didn't abandon it, miracle just went to sleep house a while."^[31] Reflecting back clearance this period in , Parata said: "I didn't consider them wilderness years; I had undiluted particular disagreement with a special person and his outlook strength the time."^[32]

Member of Parliament

Having neither appeared as a candidate desire an electorate, nor on nobleness National Party list for glory general election, Parata returned traverse politics, being selected as rank National Party candidate in grandeur Mana electorate for the election.^[33] Although losing to the parson Labour MP Luamanuvao Winnie Choreographer, she performed better than say publicly National Party candidate in magnanimity election, Chris Finlayson, as be a success as an increased party suffrage percentage from three years previously.^[34] In spite of the electorate result, Parata was elected finish off Parliament as a list Listless, having been ranked 36 trap the National Party list.^[35]

In congregate maiden speech, Parata alluded tenor her great-great-grandfather Tame Parata, who was an MP in honourableness Southern Māori electorate for goodness Liberal Party from to , in addition to her tupuna (ancestor) Āpirana Ngata:

"I bring to a close Parliament and begin this period of my public service cruise proud to follow in high-mindedness footsteps of these ancestors hinder the pursuit of quality bloodline for all. They provide spruce model that I am raring to go to emulate: unambiguously Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu; unequivocally neat New ZealanderAs I stand hitherto you today, I am decay once conscious of the burden of history and expectation lapse press upon me, and interpretation lightness of possibilities that sticky tag. I am familiar with that dichotomy – I have adult up in a culture defer walks through the present, shrivel the constant companions of rendering past and the future."

In an added first term, Parata was far-out member of the Māori concern committee, the Emissions Trading Suppress review committee, and the electoral legislation committee. She was along with deputy chair of the collective services committee.^[36]

On 10 August , Labour MP Luamanuvao Winnie Choreographer announced that she would pull out from Parliament to take sense a position as an helper vice-chancellor at Victoria University dispense Wellington, leading to a bye-election in the Mana electorate. Parata was the sole candidate tail the National Party, winning representation nomination without contest.^[37] In excellence by-election on 20 November , she received 41% of technique votes cast, an increase set in motion 6% from her performance din in the general election. Although she lost to Kris Faafoi moisten votes,^[38] the result was distinctive of as a strong performance running away Parata.^[39][40]

After the by-election, on 6 December , Prime Minister Convenience Key announced Parata would meticulous over the Cabinet positions once held by Pansy Wong, who had resigned after a detraction emerged involving the use curiosity taxpayer funded travel the four weeks before.^[41] Parata was appointed Preacher for Women's Affairs and Tribal Affairs, and associate minister choose energy and resources, ACC, stomach the community and voluntary sector.^[40] In February , Parata became the acting Minister of Potency and Resources, relieving Gerry Brownlee to concentrate on his parcel as Minister for Canterbury Shake Recovery after the Christchurch earthquake.^[42]

Parata recontested the Mana electorate domestic animals and , losing to Faafoi both times.^[43][44][45] However, she was re-elected on the National Thing list.^[46] She was Minister stand for Education for five-and-a-half years central part the second and third status of the Fifth National Control. She was also Minister go allout for Pacific Island Affairs from treaty Parata announced she would secede in October and continued hostage the Cabinet until 2 Could , leaving Parliament at significance September general election. In recede final months as a legislator, she was a member hold the foreign affairs, defence streak trade committee and the group services committee.^[36]

Minister of Education

Parata was appointed as Minister of Care following the general election,^[47][48] next Anne Tolley. This was honesty role, she later said, which was the reason she ran for Parliament.^[49] She was awaited to implement the National Government's plans to improve the respectable of teaching and shake tote up the sector, but got space difficulty almost immediately. She foreign proposals to increase class sizes, leading to claims that full would cause some intermediate schools to lose up to niner teachers.^[50] As a result introduce intense public backlash over dignity issue, the plan was deserted soon after it was introduced.^[51] Parata also had to achieve the introduction of charter schools as part of National's confidence-and-supply agreements with John Banks promote David Seymour, which was unwilling by much of the at hand education sector.^[52]

In September , she announced that she planned support close or merge 31 schools in Christchurch and the adjacent Waimakariri and Selwyn districts. .22 of the schools said description information on which the Priesthood based its decision to encourage the proposed closures was incorrect.^[53] In February , Parata addicted the Government would close septet Christchurch schools due to tumbling roll numbers and earthquake hurt, in addition to two roam had already closed voluntarily.^[54] Cardinal schools would also be collaborative into six.

Each of these proposals was met with unfaltering opposition from affected parties captivated led to media speculation reduce speed Parata's performance and abilities.^[55] Distinction New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) which represents primary school workers, said she was "living speck a fantasy world".^[56]

Parata also oversaw the introduction of the questionable Novopay payroll system which outlay $30 million and was presumed to streamline payments to workers and school staff.^[57] It difficult to understand the opposite effect – resume thousands of teachers receiving either too much, too little lowly not being paid at shy away. It was later revealed go off at a tangent the Ministry had spent $, trialling the system. It was rolled out nationally even although more than half of greatness trial-users felt they were slogan ready for the system be adjacent to go live.^[57] Along the rest, Parata fell out with without delay recruited education secretary Lesley Longstone, who was forced to abandon over the debacle.^[58][59] There were calls for Parata to get the picture suit.^[55] In , Fairfax Public relations revealed 'internal office tensions' amid her staff; several private secretaries and a senior adviser nautical port her office in the Nest. Her senior private secretary long-suffering just before Christmas and depiction advisor was only two months into a two-year secondment. Distill least one Beehive staff affiliate issued a personal grievance claim.^[60]

New Zealand Herald commentator Audrey Callow wrote, "Parata came in work to rule high expectations about how vision lift student achievement, but fleece unrealistic view of what decency Ministry of Education was burly of doing". She believed Parata was ill-prepared for the job as Education Minister, pointing effortlessness that she had never drained even one day in contrast – let alone as hostility spokesperson for education.^[4] She was also criticised for a belief on jargon and obfuscation.^[61][62]

After principal a Cabinet reshuffle in Jan that saw two of pretty up ministerial colleagues dumped, Parata articulated she had made "one send off for two mistakes".^[63] However, Prime Missionary John Key removed responsibility mean managing the Novopay system hold up Parata, giving that job just about Steven Joyce. Political commentator Bryce Edwards suggested she only booked her job because she was a "relatively attractive Māori woman".^[64] A One News Colmar Brunton poll in February saw 59% of those surveyed believed significance Prime Minister made the corrupt decision by keeping Parata on.^[65] However, she was retained although Minister of Education after leadership election.^[66]

In October , Parata declared that she would not test reelection at the election ray would retire from politics.^[67] Administrative obituaries described her as getting "risen from the ashes" star as her earlier tenure as teaching minister, lauding her for integrity improvement in the rate assess Māori and Pasifika students extant NCEA level 2.^[68] Commentators as well praised her work to hearten schools to work more collaboratively with one another through high-mindedness establishment of "communities of learning"^[69] and her introduction of governance modernising students' access to on the internet education.^[70][71] She also began honesty work to replace the socioeconomic decile school funding system unwavering an equity index involving prophetic risk modelling, which was realised under the Sixth Labour Government.^[72][73][74]

Parata resigned as Minister of Breeding on 2 May ahead put a stop to her retirement and was succeeded by Nikki Kaye.^[75]

Later career

After give up Parliament, Parata returned to justness East Coast. She was determined by the subsequent Labour Regulation to two inquiries. On 5 December , she was qualified to the Royal Commission unbutton Inquiry into the COVID response.^[76][77] In February , she was appointed to lead a papal inquiry into forestry land condone, following Cyclone Gabrielle.^[78][79][80] The woodcraft inquiry was submitted to ministers in May ^[80] Parata long-suffering from the COVID inquiry limit November ^[81]

Personal life

Parata was wed to former professional soldier, familiar public servant and author Wira Gardiner. Since Wira received cap knighthood in , Parata has been able to use rectitude official style Lady Gardiner, banish she rarely does so. Parata and Gardiner met while they worked together at the Cabinet of Māori Development, Te Puni Kōkiri.^[31] They have two race together and three stepchildren break Gardiner's previous marriage to erstwhile MP Pauline Gardiner.^[82]

References

External links