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Parata fronts up one last time

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Fri, 14 Apr 2017, 6:20AM
Education Minister Hekia Parata has called time on her position in cabinet (NZ Herald)
Education Minister Hekia Parata has called time on her position in cabinet (NZ Herald)

Parata fronts up one last time

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Fri, 14 Apr 2017, 6:20AM

Education Minister Hekia Parata has called time on her position in cabinet.

Yesterday was the last time she had to front questions in parliament as a Minister as she's standing down from Cabinet as of next month.

Labour didn't let her go easy, bringing up some of the more contentious happenings during her time in the job.

Novopay, Christchurch school closures, and charter schools all got a mention.

But Ms Parata is standing by her achievements, a highlight being an improvement in achievement rates for all students, particularly Pasifika and Maori.

"So I'm very happy, slightly sad, but mainly proud and satisfied."

Ms Parata said she has no regrets over a stand she took against her own party, one that delayed her political career by three years.

Ms Parata stepped away from the National Party in 2005 when Don Brash was its leader, because of concerns over his views on Maori and race relations.

Ms Parata said it wasn't a hard decision to make at all.

"Given that I just held such personally different views it would not have been possible for me to have been here in any principle way. I made that clear. I have no regrets about that and you know, politics is all about timing."

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