I didn’t “watch live” but I guess that’s a warning the article may change. Here are some snippets as it currently stands:

Schools won’t be able to hold teacher-only days during term time and parents of students absent for 15 days could be prosecuted, Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced in a new truancy crackdown.

Schools must have a stepped attendance response (STAR) plan in place by the beginning of the 2026 school year.

Seymour set out an example:

  • Five days absent: School contacts parents/guardians to determine a reason and set expectations
  • 10 days absent: School leaders meet with parents/guardians and student to develop a plan to address barriers to attendance and “the obligation goes onto services such as attendance, Oranga Tamariki and the local police”
  • 15 days absent: Ministry takes over the response, including possible prosecution of parents

Each school would also be asked to share attendance information with Oranga Tamariki, police, and MSD, he said.

  • eagleeyedtiger
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    2 days ago

    Hate is probably too strong a word, but man do I intensely dislike David Seymour.

    Him and his ilk were probably calling the Labour government a nanny state - they seem to really love regulation now though

    • Viper_NZ
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      2 days ago

      The hypocrisy is astounding.

      He’s on a mission to reduce bureaucracy and waste, so this government make jobseekers reapply for the benefit every 6 months.

      Government shouldn’t tell parents how to raise their kids, so they prevent parents from making decisions around whether their kid needs a mobile.

      • deadbeef79000
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        2 days ago

        That’s because it’s “little government for the rich” and “big government for the poors”.

        Substitute any “in group” and “out group” respectively.