Government puts an end to open-plan classrooms
The government has drawn a line under one of education's most contentious issues - today it announced a halt to building what everyone except for teachers call open-plan classrooms. Modern learning environments, flexible learning environments, and innovative learning environments, whatever name you give them, their day is done. The government says evidence backs the move, though surveys show most teachers who work in the buildings like them. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

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Scoop
31 minutes ago
- Scoop
Melser Announces Re-Election Bid With Focus On Youth And Climate
Singer, activist and Whanganui councillor Charlotte Melser has announced she will stand for a second term in October's local body elections. Melser will campaign on four pillars: enabling the youth sector, climate and environment, community cohesion, and business and innovation. The former restaurant owner – at 37 one of the council's youngest elected members – launched her first term in local government in 2022. 'The reason I initially stood hasn't changed – the importance of broader representation. For people to want to engage in democracy they need to see people they feel represent them and their values.' It had been a challenging three years and big issues lay ahead. 'It's been an absolute baptism by fire. The complexities of local government are growing and we've been through pretty tough economic times. 'I've worked hard to learn the mechanisms and different parts of council, to understand how our town works, and the levers we can pull to connect people and make it better. 'There are pieces of work I've spent a lot of time and energy on, which I would love to see through, particularly in the youth space.' During long-term plan deliberations, the council decided to dissolve its youth council. Responding to a 'huge' outcry of public support for youth representation, Melser asked for a $10,000 youth initiatives budget, which councillors not only backed but increased to $40,000. 'We're now looking at something pretty cool that could elevate and enable the sector. 'Across the board, the challenges are marketing, networking and reaching the youth that organisations are specifically trying to target. We are looking at ways to fill those gaps and connect the sector.' A key focus in the new triennium would be change within local government, including potential amalgamation. 'The writing is on the wall – things are changing. A lot of conversations need to be had to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of local government. 'Water reform is part of it, the first tranche of change. We're walking down another road of pretty big reform beyond water services. 'A lot of councils, including our own, are working together to find efficiencies like shared service arrangements, which makes sense.' An advocate for environment, biodiversity and climate strategies, Melser gained her qualification as a Resource Management Act (RMA) hearings commissioner during the term and sees RMA reform as another big council workstream. She is concerned about lack of clarity and guidance from Government on climate resilience and adaptation. 'RMA reform is surely the opportunity to start seriously talking about climate change adaptation. 'We're getting major weather event after major weather event. We have MPs talking about where the liability lands in terms of home ownership and buy-outs, and in the meantime we're having insurance payouts fixing these homes up and selling them on, so where's the liability? 'Where is the conversation about managed retreat? We need continuity around the country in terms of what that looks like, and that needs to come from the top.' Whanganui could not on its own fund the managed retreat of vulnerable areas such as Anzac Parade, Pūtiki and along parts of the Whanganui River. 'Our communities deserve to have certainty and clarity, and we as a district deserve to have direction on what that looks like.' Melser has been an active opponent of proposed seabed mining off South Taranaki. 'I've been working very hard on that in my own time. It's at a crucial point as the fast-track approvals process is stood up. 'Opposition is massive and growing. You've got the fishing industry, farmers, environmentalists, scientists, politicians, businesses, iwi. Never have I seen such unity among communities on a single issue.' Melser's promise to advance community cohesion rests on her experience in Castlecliff, where she lives and once owned The Citadel restaurant. She cites the Castlecliff Rejuvenation Project partnership with the council as an important insight into the growth and activation that could be achieved through the power of community. Whanganui could develop as a thriving hub of business and innovation, logistics and manufacturing, Melser said. 'It's about looking outward regionally, where the opportunities are. Our airport and port developments put us in a really strong position to be innovative and connected in logistics, and we have incredible manufacturers here in all sorts of industries.' The mother of young twins has also worked to support the introduction of Whanganui's first Māori seats this year. 'My sense of justice and fairness kicked in and I just got to work. I think it's going to be a game-changer.' Melser will confirm her second-term campaign on Friday with a fundraising event at Amdram Theatre, supported by Castlecliff Lights. A singer-songwriter herself, Melser will also perform. Her second single Down To Me will be released on 16 August.


Scoop
31 minutes ago
- Scoop
Calls For Government To Work With Councils On RMA Reform
Canterbury's regional council has called on the Government to work more closely with councils as it overhauls the Resource Management Act (RMA). Environment Canterbury (ECan) approved a submission on the national direction under the RMA at a council meeting on Wednesday, July 23, where it supported many of the proposed changes. In moving the motion to approve the submission, North Canterbury councillor Grant Edge called on central Government to work more closely with local and regional government. The Government has sought feedback on proposals to address infrastructure and development, the primary sector, and freshwater, with submissions closing on July 27. Cr Edge said there needed to be more collaboration with communities, while funding and financial issues needed to be resolved. The national direction has some useful tools, including spatial planning which councils are already using, Cr Edge said. ''Spatial planning tools are potentially a powerful mechanism for us in Canterbury and nationally to resolve some of these issues.'' Councils have used spatial plans, such as the Greater Christchurch spatial plan, to identify how urban areas can grow by opening up land for housing, addressing public transport needs, climate change and resolving historical issues such as kāinga nohoanga development. While he backed the submission, deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs said stopping councils from addressing their own planning needs could lead to ''unintended consequences''. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans and regional policy statements until the new RMA legislation takes effect, which is expected to be in 2027. ECan voted in November to put its regional policy statement on hold until it had more certainty around Government reform. Dr Swiggs said there were provisions in the draft regional policy statement to address areas not covered in national guidelines and reduce the risk of untended consequences. ''But it looks like we won't be able to address that until 2027 and even then, we may be limited in our scope.'' Ngāi Tahu councillor Tutehounuku Korako said while he welcomed the national statement of Papakāinga housing, the Government needed to be mindful that Māori were facing worse housing outcomes than non-Māori. ''To enable intensification of Mana Whenua, a co-ordinated approach is about whenua governance, planning framework adaptation, infrastructure enablement, cultural integration and access to funding and expertise. ''It ultimately needs to support the reconnection of whānau to whenua (land). The submission had overwhelming support from councillors, with just Cr David East abstaining.

RNZ News
31 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Sport NZ scraps guidelines for inclusion of transgender people
sport politics 13 minutes ago Under government direction, Sport New Zealand has scrapped guidelines for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport. The removal comes after a review showing the principles did not reflect legitimate community expectations that sport should prioritise fairness and safety. New Zealand First is claming full credit for the change as its coalition partners struggled to explain why the change was needed. Russell Palmer reports.