Thursday, 14 September 2023 14:55

Carpet decision 'bonkers' - Shaw

Written by  Staff Reporters
Green Party co-leader James Shaw. Green Party co-leader James Shaw.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw has described the Ministry of Education’s decision to carpet 800 small and rural schools in synthetic carpets as “bonkers”.

In July, it was discovered that the Ministry of Education had elected to award a contract to carpet 800 small and rural schools to American manufacturer Miliken Group. The company manufactures solution-dyed carpets, chemical products, textile materials, and healthcare goods.

At the time, the contract – a part of the Government’s Improving Classrooms for Small and Remote Schools programme – was valued at $8 million.

The decision was labelled as “absolutely ridiculous” and a “slap in the face” by critics, which included Federated Farmers, Groundswell, The Campaign for Wool NZ and teachers.

Shaw, in an interview with Country TV, said the decision was a “very poor” one.

“I’m a bit frustrated about it because quite early in our first term, it was one of the real points of agreement between us [the Green Party], Labour and New Zealand First, was that we wanted Government facilities to be built and fitted out with sustainable materials, i.e. things like wool and wood that are grown here in New Zealand rather than plastics and steel and so on,” he says.

Shaw says the fact that point of agreement hasn’t flown on into decisions like the one around the carpets is “frustrating”.

Get the full story on Country TV, tonight at 7.30pm on sky channel 81, or get 30 days FREE access, online and on demand at www.countrytv.co.nz.

More like this

New minister's hort focus

The new Minister of Horticulture, Nicola Grigg, says the reason that she came into Parliament was because of her interest in and commitment to agriculture.

Editorial: The last of the real Greens

OPINION: James Shaw is the last of the real Greens – a person who until the end has lived up to the ideals of the original NZ Green Party, which first entered Parliament in 1999 when one of its founders, Jeanette Fitzsimmons, historically won the Coromandel seat. Rod Donald and Mike Ward were the other key founding members.

New party?

OPINION: Will departing Greens coleader James Shaw set up a new party?

Outgoing Greens co-leader praised

Tributes from across the political divide flowed last week for James Shaw, the Green Party co-leader who has called time on his nine year political career.

Featured

Development rewarded at youth camp

Zara Williams' personal and professional growth has seen her presented with the top award at the 2025 World Wide Sires national all dairy breeds youth camp.

State farmer cultivates talent with apprenticeship scheme

To mark International Day of Education on January 24, 2025, state farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) announced the commencement of its Apprenticeship Scheme, designed to equip the next generation of farmers with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for a thriving career in agriculture.

Insights from within the cow

smaXtec's bolus technology supports early detection of potential diseases, enabling preventive measures to improve herd health and reproductive outcomes.

National

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Times have changed

OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers…

Hallelujah moment

OPINION: The new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has just had the hallelujah moment of the 21st century in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter