From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 30s
Labour pledges 1000 new teacher aides
Labour promises 1000 more teacher aides to boost student support.
In brief
Labour promises 1000 more teacher aides to boost student support. Labour will fund 1000 additional teacher aides over four years to provide individual student support, addressing learning gaps. Originally reported by RNZ.
Labour's new policy
Labour promises to fund 1000 additional teacher aides over four years for student support.
Ginny Andersen's statement
Andersen says teachers are stretched and schools lack funding for learning support.
“Too many teachers are stretched trying to meet the needs of every child, while schools are dipping into their budgets or fundraising to pay for learning support”
National's response
National highlights 896,210 additional teacher aide hours and early intervention progress.
“896,210 additional teacher aide hours were delivered in 2025/26; over 1000 more children were receiving high-needs support from the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme; more than 6100 Year 1 children were benefiting from Early Intervention Services; early intervention wait times were 16 days shorter compared to December 2025 after contracting an extra 1000 private sector specialist places; 474 more schools had learning support coordinators; and 190 more learning support specialist roles had been filled.”
What to remember
Labour will fund 1000 additional teacher aides over four years to provide individual student support, addressing learning gaps.
