Pat Newman
School parents targeted online by loan sharks
With the new school year just around the corner, high interest finance companies are using social media to target families struggling to make ends meet. Budgeting services say they are helping a… Audio
Teachers restraining children more than 130 times a month
The Education Ministry has released figures showing every month there a more than 130 cases of teachers using physical force to stop children hurting themselves or others. Schools have had to notify… Audio
Teachers restraining children more than 10 times a day
The Education Ministry is being told ten times a day of incidents where teachers have physically restrained students. Schools have had to notify the ministry since the first of August whenever… Audio
Teacher's misconduct charge 'PC gone mad'
A teacher has been censured for carrying a struggling child to a school principal's office. The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal says in the incident last year, the teacher intervened several times to… Audio
Invest in violent children or invest in new prisons - principal
Pat Newman, head of the Northland Principals Federation, says teachers are at breaking point as they try to cope with a growing number of violent children. Video, Audio
Principals threaten suspension over behavioural funding
Northland primary school principals issue an ultimatum: give us more funding to deal with behavioural problems or we'll have to start suspending students, as Lois Williams reports. Audio
Charter school labelled waste of money by Northland teachers
The Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association says the Whangaruru charter school facing closure was a total waste of 4.8 million dollars. Audio
No thank-you to free school lunches
Some of Northland's poorest schools agree with John Key that their pupils don't need lunch programmes. Audio
Charter kura costs 'obscenely high': Northland principal
Critics of a charter school near Russell are describing the costs needed to run it as 'obscenely high,' and say the money would be better spent elsewhere. Audio
Principals lambast ministry spending
Northland principals say a Ministry of Education shake-up has done nothing for at-risk children who are waiting months for help. Audio
Govt-appointed board to replace commissioner at school
A government-appointed board is to be put in charge of a Northland school that's been under the control of a commissioner for two years. Audio
School principal unsure of legal rights during AOS lockdown
The principal of a Whangarei primary school has asked the Education Ministry to clarify his legal rights, after two parents insisted on taking their children away from the school during an Armed… Audio
Horahora principal on upcoming food in schools announcement
A Northland principal says the food in schools initiative due to be announced by the government today won't answer wider questions about why such a programme is necessary. Audio
Whistleblower principal wants apology from Anne Tolley
A Northland principal who blew the whistle about the background of one of the Ministry of Education's school advisers says he's still waiting for an explanation - and an apology. Audio
Principal seeks apology from Minister for saying he lied
A Northland school principal who accused the Education Ministry of appointing unqualified people as school advisers wants an apology fron the Education Minister who says his claims are untrue. Audio
The impact of socio-economic status on Moari school students
A Northland principal says socio-economic status is a factor in the failure of Maori students and it is unrealistic to put the blame on schools. Audio
Northland principals defying Tolley on national standards
Northland primary school principals are defying the Government saying they will not implement its national standards policy until they see proof that it works. Audio
Literacy
Why are 20 percent of NZ kids getting to intermediate or high school with literacy problems? Panel discussion with Tom Nicholson, Pat Newman and Alison Halkyard, a teacher at Whangaparoa College… Audio
