Erica's News

MP for East Coast Bays

29 Jan 2026Nicola Willis · Erica Stanford

First specialist schools in 50 years to be built

For the first time in almost 50 years, the Government is building new day specialist schools that will support children with high and complex needs to

19 Dec 2025Erica Stanford

Parent Portal updated with new maths practice tool

Parents will know more about what their children are learning at school and will have the tools to help them learn at home through new updates

18 Dec 2025Erica Stanford

Area School Principals’ Vote to Accept Settlement

Education Minister Erica Stanford welcomes the successful conclusion of pay negotiations to renew the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement. “Area schools principals play an integral role

11 Dec 2025Erica Stanford · Louise Upston

First 10,000 visitors through visa-waiver travel from Australia

New Zealand’s economy is already benefiting from the new visa-free pathway for Chinese and Pacific travellers with eligible Australian visas, with more than 13,000 visitors already

10 Dec 2025Erica Stanford

Secondary principals vote to accept settlement

Education Minister Erica Stanford welcomes the successful conclusion of pay negotiations for secondary principals, with a majority vote from members of the Secondary Principals’ Association of

10 Dec 2025Erica Stanford

Significant boost to school property budgets

The Government is continuing to supercharge school property, increasing maintenance funding for the first time since 2010 so more students benefit from safe, warm and dry

4 Dec 2025Erica Stanford

Education Minister welcomes settlement for secondary teachers

Education Minister Erica Stanford is welcoming the successful conclusion of pay negotiations for secondary teachers following a majority vote from Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) members

4 Dec 2025Erica Stanford · Louise Upston

Welcome boost to tourism as new flight route lands in Auckland

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford are welcoming the first China Eastern Airlines flight connecting Shanghai, Auckland and Buenos Aires, marking

25 Nov 2025Erica Stanford

Focus on basics delivers groundbreaking maths results

Groundbreaking maths gains in just 12 weeks show the Government’s reforms to raise student achievement are already delivering for students who need it most. New data

24 Nov 2025Erica Stanford

New investor visa to back local businesses

Applications are now open for the Business Investor Visa, a new immigration pathway designed to attract experienced businesspeople who want to invest in and grow established

20 Nov 2025Erica Stanford

Cell phone ban in schools raising achievement

New research from the Education Review Office (ERO) shows the Government’s decision to ban cell phones in schools is working and is delivering better student outcomes.

18 Nov 2025Erica Stanford

Strengthening New Zealand’s education system

The Government is taking the next step in strengthening New Zealand’s education system with the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill passing its first reading

11 Nov 2025Erica Stanford · Shane Reti

Ensuring students get a world-leading education

The Government’s ensuring schools have a sharpened focus on lifting student achievement and attendance, education workforce governance is fit-for-purpose, and freedom of expression is upheld in

28 Oct 2025Erica Stanford

Refreshed national curriculum to raise achievement

Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the release of the full draft of New Zealand’s new Year 1–10 curriculum, another significant step toward delivering a world-leading

22 Oct 2025Simeon Brown · Erica Stanford · Judith Collins

Strike unfair, unproductive and unnecessary

Tomorrow’s proposed strike is unfair, unproductive and unnecessary and should be called off, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says. “The strike will not help anyone. It

21 Oct 2025Erica Stanford

Supporting students with higher & complex needs

The Government is launching the Expanded New Zealand Curriculum (NZC), a resource that will support around 12,000 students with high and complex additional needs from Term

21 Oct 2025Erica Stanford

Redress System for survivors of abuse in care

Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions The Redress System for Abuse in

21 Oct 2025Erica Stanford

Improving protection for people in state care

Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions The Government is improving the protection