Sick bay: John Key’s Hekia Parata headache
Hekia Parata’s decision to step down at the next election sent almost as many shockwaves through her caucus as it did the media.
Parata has at times been a polarising and divisive figurehead for the Government’s education reforms.
But after a horror start – think back to the class sizes clanger, special education and the Christchurch schools shambles – Parata’s legacy is as one of Key’s more effective ministers, driving through a significant change agenda.
Her name was not among those being tossed around as a potential casualty of Key’s looming reshuffle.
While the Novopay debacle also happened under her watch, responsibility for that will likely be sheeted home to another minister, Craig Foss, when Key reshuffles his cabinet early next year.
And while Key has been dropping some heavy hints about installing fresh faces in his Cabinet, Parata was probably not among the faces he wanted to lose.
It’s the likes of Housing Minister Nick Smith who are under pressure to move on, though Smith apparently has a tin ear when it comes to suggestions he hang up his boots.
Parata’s departure leaves Key with some headaches as he weighs up potentially his most important Cabinet reshuffle yet.
Parata ticked two important boxes as both a high profile woman and someone with significant standing in Maoridom. Key’s cabinet has a paucity of both.
But some of the weaker performers in his Cabinet have been women, while those lining up for promotion on his backbench are mostly men.
That will constrain Key’s ability for wholesale change, though there will be some casualties as Key seeks to stamp a fresh face on his thirdterm Government in a bid to win a fourth. It helps that there have already been some retirements – long-serving MPs Maurice Williamson and Lindsay Tisch have already put their hands up – with more announcements in the wings.
The decision Key must weigh up over Christmas is whether to install a fresh face in the education portfolio, or leave Parata there to see out the term.
Parata wants to stay, and Key might be tempted to leave her there given the recent news that associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye is battling breast cancer. Kaye is the obvious replacement but may not be ready to return in the New Year.
The sector is already in upheaval with a search to replace education secretary Peter Hughes, now heading the State Services Commission.
Putting two new hands in such a critical portfolio in an election year would be high risk. Key’s other options would be a seasoned veteran like Paula Bennett, or the wildcard option of asking Finance Minister Bill English to pick it up as an extra portfolio. English is passionate about education and has the mana to drive through significant reform should the Government decide to make it an election year centrepiece.
No wonder Key is leaving all his options open for now.
‘‘And while Key has been dropping some heavy hints about installing fresh faces in his Cabinet, Parata was probably not among the faces he wanted to lose.’’
Education Minister Hekia Parata says she will leave Parliament after giving a decade of her life to politics, with no plans other than the ‘‘great blue horizon’’ of life outside of the Beehive.
Parata told Prime Minister John Key of her decision not to stand in next year’s election earlier this year - it comes ahead of a planned Cabinet reshuffle at the start of 2017.
Parata said it was time to move on after eight years in the Government, including five as Education Minister.
‘‘By some time next year I will have committed nearly 10 years of my life to politics. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and I’ve done with 200 per cent energy and passion, but there will be other opportunities.’’
Parata said rejuvenation was important, which meant ministers had to make way for others in the ‘‘immensely talented caucus’’.
‘‘You do what you can to the best of your ability and in my case, you then move on and leave the field clear for others who are equally or more talented.’’
Parata acknowledged the education portfolio had been challenging and ‘‘not one you could ever hope to be the most popular in,’’ but said that it had been rewarding for her.
Her proudest achievements included investing more into quality leadership and teachers, transforming professional development, and establishing the Education Council.
Asked about her relationship with the teacher’s unions, Parata hoped it was seen as ‘‘mutually respectful,’’ saying she had included them in major working groups.
Parata said she did not intend to ‘‘leave behind unfinished business’’, with several large pieces of education legislation and an overhaul of school funding among the work still underway ahead of the
"You do what you can...then move on and leave the field clear for others" Hekia Parata
election.
She had no plans for her career after politics, but ruled out taking a diplomatic posting.
‘‘I have no plans beyond completing my education work programme, and then the great blue horizon beckons after that.’’
Parata was elected to Parliament in 2008 and has served as the Minister of Education since 2011.
Earlier this month Key indicated there would be some ministerial departures ahead of next year’s election as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.
‘‘At some point there’ll be retirements and things next year,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s likely there’ll be one or two that’ll be going but we’re making our way through that.’’
Parata has faced some big battles in the job with the fallout of Novopay, which was handed over to Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce to fix, controversy over national standards, the closure of Christchurch schools and the introduction of charter schools.
More recently she had to do a U-turn on increasing class sizes after backlash from the unions and parents.
Labour leader Andrew Little said Parata had never been short of ‘‘ideas or the energy to do stuff and make changes’’.
‘‘She’s been a determined Minister, she’ll go commanding a fair bit of respect from that role.’’
She was ‘‘one of those Ministers who you can say is there because she believes in doing the best for the children of New Zealand,’’ he said.
Parata’s under-secretary and ACT leader David Seymour described her as a ‘‘deeply passionately devoted Minister who has done a lot of good work in education.’’
Seymour doesn’t have his eyes on her job - ‘‘it’s very unlikely I’ll ever be a Minister in any Government’’.