Latest news with #Simmonds
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Ellie Simmonds' devastating baby dilemma and split from boyfriend after Strictly
Ellie Simmonds' devastating baby dilemma and split from boyfriend after Strictly The Paralympian addresses the difficult decisions she now faces in a new ITV documentary Simmonds faces a hugely difficult decision on whether or not to have children Former Team GB swimmer Ellie Simmonds has revealed the heartbreaking decision she faces on whether to have children, admitting that she was "just not ready" for the emotional toll of the dilemma. The five-time Paralympic gold medallist, who retired from swimming in 2021, turned 30 in November and is looking to start the next chapter of her life. However, Simmonds - who has achondroplasia, the most common cause of dwarfism - remains uncertain about whether she wants to become a mother or not. She addresses the dilemma in a new ITV documentary - Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? - which airs on ITV at 9pm on Tuesday night and explores the challenges faced by parents who have been told that their child will be born with disabilities. The programme sees Simmonds explore the various options available to her, from sperm donors to egg freezing, as well as adoption, having herself been adopted at two weeks old after being given up by her birth mother. However, the former swimmer, who also starred on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, has another factor to weigh up in deciding whether to have children, knowing that her achondroplasia will play a significant role in any future decisions about starting a family. "I already know that gene changes led to my dwarfism and if I started a family, there would be a chance that I'd pass it on," she told The Times. "I'm super lucky. I've got the least impaired version of achondroplasia. But there could be complications with the spine, bowing of the legs, which can lead to reduced walking." Article continues below After consulting a clinical geneticist who specialises in achondroplasia, Simmonds has learnt about pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) – a technique that identifies genetic faults in embryos before they are transferred to the uterus – leaving her with some difficult decisions to make. Should she decide to have a child with a partner of average height, she explains in the programme, the baby would have a 50% chance of having achondroplasia. However, if her partner also had achondroplasia, the likelihood of having an average-sized child decreases to 25%, with a 50% chance of 'single dose' dwarfism and a 25% risk of 'double dose' dwarfism, from which babies do not survive. Additionally, those who undergo PGT also have to commit to having a 'normal' embryo placed back in the uterus, which as Simmonds notes in the documentary, means: "If we did that, no dwarfism baby would be born to a dwarfism couple." She later added that this would be true "in fact, not just a dwarfism baby, but any baby with a disability", leaving her with a heartbreaking dilemma over whether to undergo PGT or not. While doing so would see her avoid a potentially fatal outcome, she would also filter out a disabled child in the process. "I'm involved in dwarf sports and the dwarfism community. I'm so proud to be part of that and to have dwarfism," she said. "It would depend if [the father] was an individual with dwarfism or a non-disabled person. I'd never heard of PGT before now. But now I feel educated. I know it's there for me [if I want it] and to prevent the trauma of a double dose. "I came away from it thinking, 'What can I do to make sure that people with a disability are being brought into this world to have a happy, content and fulfilled life?' We might need a bit more support and I might need a few adaptations around my house, or maybe some hospital appointments, but we're all different and it should be celebrated. "I'm trying to help families and disabled people to feel more content, to feel happy with who they are," she added, before admittting that adoption "is definitely something I'd be up for thinking about in the future". Participating in the documentary proved to be an eye-opener for Simmonds, as she admitted: "Making all these decisions is like digging deep down into your core. I was just not ready for it. "I thought I knew everything about my body, but there was so much I didn't know," the former swimmer continued. "I now understand that as you get older your fertility drops. I know a lot of people who are starting to freeze their eggs, so they have the opportunity to have a child in the future. "That's definitely something that I may do. And a lot of women are now deciding to use a sperm donor and have a child on their own. That's powerful too. "But it's also powerful to understand that you don't have to get married and have children and live happily ever after like in the movies. You've got other options for your life. My indecision is more about being a woman than about my disability." The heartbreaking dilemma comes two years after Simmonds split from her boyfriend of two years, Matt Dean, who she had known since they were both children. While they kept their relationship out of the spotlight, i t was reported in 2023 that they had parted ways, although it was claimed that their break-up was "amicable". Matt had previously been seen cheering on Simmonds during her stint on Strictly a year before their break-up, with the Paralympian revealing that he helped convince her to take part in the show. She told The Sun at the time: "I was like 'shall I, shall I not?' Then I spoke to my other half Matt, and he was like 'go for it Ellie, take that leap of faith, you don't know unless you try.' Article continues below "Now I'm so happy I said yes. As soon as I did we were bouncing around the kitchen like 'yay!' Like little buzzing bees."
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Simmonds taking charge as Te Pukenga gets whacked
Vendetta is the Italian word for "revenge", and it was used quite a lot by Labour in the House on Tuesday. No, not because its MPs were complaining about the National Party's views of Te Pati Maori (which they were), but because they were complaining about that well-known political mafiosi, Invercargill National MP Penny Simmonds. Now, Ms Simmonds has not got a bitter bone in her body, but so far as Labour was concerned, as she got to her feet to begin the work she has been preparing for for many months — the dismantling of Te Pukenga — Ms Simmonds was some sort of conglomeration of Vito Corleone, Tony Montana and Tony Soprano as she sought retribution for the perceived wrongs done to her. "This plan is Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds' personal vendetta," Shanan Halbert thundered. "This is a terrible move from a minister with a vendetta, with no plan, no funding for vocational education," Rachel Boyack said. Ginny Anderson's contribution was somewhat less on the nose — she accused Ms Simmonds of having "a singular purpose" — but you know that she meant the "V" word. So, what was Labour getting so steamed up with Ms Simmonds about? The Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill basically undoes a huge chunk of work which Labour had done while it was in government, to merge the country's various polytechnics into the mega Te Pukenga organisation. The mega merger was, you may recall, the work of one Chris Hipkins, a man of some prominence in Labour's ranks. The creation of Te Pūkenga had laudable aims, such as streamlining procedures and policies and reducing cost duplication. However, its critics — notably the former Southland Institute of Technology chief executive, one Penny Simmonds — claimed it stripped away local autonomy and punished successful polytechnics by using their better bottom lines to prop up less successful polytechnics. After a brutal gangland war otherwise known as the 2023 election, Don Luxon took control of the mean streets of New Zealand and Capo Simmonds was placed in charge of the vocational education sector, making the woman tasked with making Te Pukenga sleep with the fishes. If that be a vendetta, then so be it. "Te Pūkenga will be referred to as the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and will remain as a transitional entity for a one-year period before being disestablished by 31 December, 2026, if not before," Ms Simmonds said. "Each polytechnic will be funded independently and will have local governance and management. For most, they will continue operating at their current campuses across the country. Some polytechnics will be established as stand-alone entities; others requiring additional support will be designated members of a federation or merged, with Cabinet considering their options later." And as for why Te Pūkenga had to be offed, Ms Simmonds slated it as being an expensive failure. "Its push to centralise and standardise polytechnics and work-based learning was wrong, and it cost this country dearly." Ms Simmonds will not have been surprised at the level of Labour's ire, although she may have been a touch dismayed given the considerable amount of praise her first salvo at vocational education reform, a revamp of work-based learning, received when it was announced in April. She harked back to those glory days, saying that those changes were just what apprentices, learners and industry had been calling for — decentralised vocational education with training based around the specific needs of industries. "It [the Bill as a whole is] for all those apprentices, trainees and employers involved in work-based learning who've struggled to get support from an overly bureaucratic and remote Te Pūkenga head office in Hamilton," she said. "This redesign is also for the communities up and down the country who've watched on in frustration as their local polytechnics have been stripped of local innovation and control." She probably got most people on side as soon as she mentioned Hamilton. A more measured assessment of the Bill came from Dunedin Green list MP Francisco Hernandez, who did not even come close to using the "V" word, but certainly raised several cogent objections to Ms Simmonds' proposals. "We have no philosophical objection to the idea that there could be thriving, independent vocational institutions; however, this legislation does not establish that," he said. "However, this disestablishment has been severely disruptive to the hundreds of staff around the country who've been let go; to the thousands more that have had to go through job consultations that have rescoped, descoped and unscoped their roles." Mr Hernandez further asserted that the reforms potentially opened a door for asset sales and privatisation. "It's asset sales and privatisation. That's absolutely what's going on. So, we would like to see guardrails against that," he said. "Let's have some support for thriving, independent polytechnics. Let's actually put our money where our mouth is by supporting funding for them and not disestablishing them." Speaking of scrapping things As foreshadowed last week, Parliament did indeed pass Southland National MP Joseph Mooney's novel notice of motion regarding legal training. To clarify, Mr Mooney sought to overturn a regulation that tikanga Maori be a compulsory component of all compulsory legal subjects. He had no objection to tikanga being taught, nor with the NZ Council of Legal Education having acted within its powers to make tikanga a standalone compulsory subject. However, he and the majority on the regulations review committee found that making tikanga a compulsory part of all compulsory subjects was "unusual and unexpected" and should be disallowed. So did a majority of the House, but not without a heap of scorn from the Opposition benches.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Bill passes first reading to disestablish Te Pūkenga
Penny Simmonds. Photo: supplied Legislation to disestablish New Zealand's centralised vocational education and training system passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday. "Today, we've taken a major step forward toward a vocational education and training system that works for learners, employers, industries and local communities," Vocational Education and Training Minister Penny Simmonds said. "The Bill, which has passed its first reading, will return decision-making to where it belongs — in the hands of regional polytechnics and industry. "This is a common sense reset that ensures polytechnic education and training is responsive to regional needs and work-based learning for apprentices and trainees is led by the industries that rely on it." The Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill proposes a structural reset of vocational education, focusing on two key priorities: restoring local decision-making for polytechnics, and giving industry greater leadership in standard-setting and work-based learning. Among the key changes in the Bill are: • Disestablishing Te Pūkenga and creating a network of regional polytechnics, which will operate as standalone institutions or within a federation. Te Pūkenga will remain as a transitional entity for one year to manage unallocated programmes and activities. • Replacing Workforce Development Councils with new Industry Skills Boards, effective January 1, 2026. These statutory bodies will be governed primarily by industry representatives and responsible for setting standards, undertaking workforce planning and advising the Tertiary Education Commission on relevant funding matters. • Transferring work-based learning functions from Te Pūkenga to Industry Skills Boards for up to two years, allowing time for new delivery arrangements across polytechnics, private training establishments and Wānanga to be developed. •Amending training levy provisions to enable Industry Skills Boards to levy industry members, subject to industry support. Ms Simmonds said implementation would take up to two years, with the first group of polytechnics and new Industry Skills Boards in place from January 1. — APL
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Bill To Reset Vocational Education Passes First Reading
Press Release – New Zealand Government Today, weve taken a major step forward toward a vocational education and training system that works for learners, employers, industries and local communities, Vocational Education and Training Minister Penny Simmonds says. Minister for Vocational Education Legislation to disestablish New Zealand's centralised vocational education and training system has passed its first reading in Parliament, Vocational Education and Training Minister Penny Simmonds says. 'Today, we've taken a major step forward toward a vocational education and training system that works for learners, employers, industries and local communities,' Ms Simmonds says. 'The Bill, which has passed its first reading, will return decision-making to where it belongs — in the hands of regional polytechnics and industry. 'This is a commonsense reset that ensures polytechnic education and training is responsive to regional needs and work-based learning for apprentices and trainees is led by the industries that rely on it.' The Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill proposes a structural reset of vocational education, focusing on two key priorities: restoring local decision-making for polytechnics, and giving industry greater leadership in standard setting and work-based learning. Among the key changes in the Bill are: Disestablishing Te Pūkenga and creating a network of regional polytechnics, which will operate as standalone institutions or within a federation. Te Pūkenga will remain as a transitional entity for one year to manage unallocated programmes and activities. Replacing Workforce Development Councils with new Industry Skills Boards, effective 1 January 2026. These statutory bodies will be governed primarily by industry representatives and responsible for setting standards, undertaking workforce planning, and advising the Tertiary Education Commission on relevant funding matters. Transferring work-based learning functions from Te Pūkenga to Industry Skills Boards for up to two years, allowing time for new delivery arrangements across polytechnics, private training establishments, and Wānanga to be developed. Amending training levy provisions to enable Industry Skills Boards to levy industry members, subject to industry support. Ms Simmonds says implementation will take up to two years, with the first group of polytechnics and new Industry Skills Boards in place from 1 January 2026. 'Industry knows the skills it needs. That's why we're putting them back in charge of standard setting and qualification development for their industry,' Ms Simmonds says. 'This is about building a stronger, more relevant system — one that sets our people and our economy up for future success. 'We look forward to hearing what New Zealanders think during the select committee process so that we can get on with the changes.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Bill To Reset Vocational Education Passes First Reading
Hon Penny Simmonds Minister for Vocational Education Legislation to disestablish New Zealand's centralised vocational education and training system has passed its first reading in Parliament, Vocational Education and Training Minister Penny Simmonds says. 'Today, we've taken a major step forward toward a vocational education and training system that works for learners, employers, industries and local communities,' Ms Simmonds says. 'The Bill, which has passed its first reading, will return decision-making to where it belongs — in the hands of regional polytechnics and industry. 'This is a commonsense reset that ensures polytechnic education and training is responsive to regional needs and work-based learning for apprentices and trainees is led by the industries that rely on it.' The Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill proposes a structural reset of vocational education, focusing on two key priorities: restoring local decision-making for polytechnics, and giving industry greater leadership in standard setting and work-based learning. Among the key changes in the Bill are: Disestablishing Te Pūkenga and creating a network of regional polytechnics, which will operate as standalone institutions or within a federation. Te Pūkenga will remain as a transitional entity for one year to manage unallocated programmes and activities. Replacing Workforce Development Councils with new Industry Skills Boards, effective 1 January 2026. These statutory bodies will be governed primarily by industry representatives and responsible for setting standards, undertaking workforce planning, and advising the Tertiary Education Commission on relevant funding matters. Transferring work-based learning functions from Te Pūkenga to Industry Skills Boards for up to two years, allowing time for new delivery arrangements across polytechnics, private training establishments, and Wānanga to be developed. Amending training levy provisions to enable Industry Skills Boards to levy industry members, subject to industry support. Ms Simmonds says implementation will take up to two years, with the first group of polytechnics and new Industry Skills Boards in place from 1 January 2026. 'Industry knows the skills it needs. That's why we're putting them back in charge of standard setting and qualification development for their industry,' Ms Simmonds says. 'This is about building a stronger, more relevant system — one that sets our people and our economy up for future success. 'We look forward to hearing what New Zealanders think during the select committee process so that we can get on with the changes.'
