Midday Report

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 23 March 2023

News from the business sector

The National Party has unveiled its new teaching curriculum; which would require children to do an hour of reading, an hour of writing and an hour of maths per day.

The requirement will cover primary and intermediate schools and will be accompanied by standardised testing of those subjects at least twice a year, beginning in Year 3.

The opposition has also set themselves a target to ensure 80 percent of Year 8 students are at the expected level in reading, writing, and maths by 2030.

Andrew King is a teacher from Oropi School near Tauranga and spoke to Māni Dunlop.

The Government's efforts to reduce poverty have stalled, with more than 100,000 children still living in extreme hardship.

Data out today from Stats NZ shows no change between 2021 and 2022.

These figures include the tail end of the pandemic and the beginning of a cost of living crisis.

But the government is still claiming it as a win, that the number hasn't fallen backwards.

The Child Poverty Reduction - Minister Jan Tinetti spoke to Māni Dunlop.

A survey of residents and small businesses has found most don't trust that in the future the electricity industry will provide a reliable supply that they can afford.

The Consumer Advocacy Council's survey found that two-thirds of residential consumers and more than half of small businesses are worried that electricity will become unaffordable for some within the next ten years.

Electricity provider Flick's CEO, Pavan Vyas spoke to Māni Dunlop.

The National Party wants set specific skills that must be learnt in each year of primary and intermediate school as part of its proposed education policy.

The opposition says it would rewrite the curriculum if it wins the next election, details of the policy "Teaching the Basics Brilliantly" will be announced in the Hutt Valley on Thursday.

The Principals Federation President is Leanne Otene spoke to Māni Dunlop.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday sports News for 22 March 2023.

Athletics New Zealand chief executive Pete Pfitzinger admits he feels for runner Zane Robertson who's been banned for eight years following a positive doping test.

News from the business sector