Access by Various artists

The select committee inquiry into dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism etc has taken up a lot of time in the last parliamentary term. Green MP Catherine Delahunty cleverly persuaded the committee to undertake this inquiry (despite its National Party majority) with the support of Judith Collins who was briefly on the committee and knows a bit about the issues. Hundreds of people made written and oral submissions including some powerful ones from students themselves. Eventually a long report came out with some weakish recommendations. However, so frustrated were Catherine and Chris Hipkins and Tracey Martin (two other opposition members on the committee) that they wrote their own minority report with several more and tougher recommendations. The point of all this is that the Greens, Labour and NZFirst have shown they can work very well together on inclusive education during this last term and they all have very good party policies. My favourite is the Greens in that it specifies inclusion in school camp as a marker of inclusion. All the inclusive education policies are on the party websites and are very detailed. Much better than last election.

National's on the other hand is heavily tied to its policy of social investment so only some mysteriously targetted (for predictive risk) kids in compliant schools will benefit from new funding.

It never said they were the same. Just that students with these conditions needed extra support. Some submissions covered one condition such as dyslexia or autism and some covered the support that students needed more generally.

Kia ora. Closing this thread now to ensure we meet the provisions of the Electoral Act. May open again after 7pm tomorrow.