Erica Louise Stanford (née Poppelbaum; born 1978)[1][2] is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party. She currently serves as the 49th Minister of Education and the 60th Minister of Immigration in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.

Erica Stanford
Stanford in 2023
49th Minister of Education
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byJan Tinetti
60th Minister of Immigration
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byAndrew Little
1st Minister Responsible for The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
Assumed office
26 January 2024
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byJan Tinetti (as Minister of Internal Affairs)
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for East Coast Bays
Assumed office
23 September 2017
Preceded byMurray McCully
Majority8,764
Personal details
Born
Erica Louise Poppelbaum

1978 (age 45–46)
Political partyNational
SpouseKane Stanford
Children2
Websiteericastanford.national.org.nz

Personal life

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Stanford lives in Ōkura in the Auckland region and is the daughter of a Dutch immigrant father.[3] She holds a Bachelor of Arts in politics from the University of Auckland, and cites a lecturer, Dr Raymond Miller, as the reason for her passion for politics.[4] She is married, meeting her husband Kane while at Rangitoto College, and has two children.[5][4]

Stanford has worked in export sales as well as producing local television shows.[5] This included being the producer of a reality TV show called Noise Control, in which she and a camera operator followed a noise control team around Auckland. In filming one episode, a person pointed a gun at her and her cameraman; the episode was one of the most-watched in the series.[6] She also produced the show Last Chance Dog, and wrote scripts and did other work on Piha Rescue for more than six years.[4][6]

Political career

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New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–2020 52nd East Coast Bays 65 National
2020–2023 53rd East Coast Bays 39 National
2023–present 54th East Coast Bays 7 National

In 2013, Stanford started working in the office of Murray McCully, the MP for East Coast Bays. She took the place of her sister who previously worked for McCully.[7] She joined the National Party at the same time. When she started in the office, she worked there two days a week as one of three jobs while also having two children.[6][4] She later worked there full time,[4] and prior to running for parliament, she held the role of Senior MP Support.[8] Stanford describes McCully as her mentor,[6] calling him "a political master."[4]

In opposition, 2017–2023

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McCully retired from Parliament in 2017, and the National Party selected Stanford as his replacement for East Coast Bays.[8] Stanford had not previously stood for parliament or other office. The East Coast Bays electorate has been a safe seat for National since 1987; since then McCully held either East Coast Bays or Albany, which covered a similar area. In the 2017 general election, Stanford won the electorate easily, with 66% of the vote.[9]

In the 2020 election, Stanford stood again for East Coast Bays. During the campaign she also attended a debate of Auckland Central candidates, as National had not selected a new candidate for the electorate by the debate.[10] Stanford retained East Coast Bays by a margin of 8,764 votes.[11]

Stanford was promoted as the spokesperson for education and associate spokesperson for Ethnic Communities while retaining her portfolio for immigration on 6 December 2021, in the Shadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon.[12] This led to her ranking being promoted from 25 under the Shadow Cabinet of Judith Collins to 7 under the Shadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon.[13]

In Government, 2023–present

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During the 2023 election, Stanford retained East Coast Bays by a margin of 20,353 votes, defeating Labour's candidate Naisi Chen.[14] Following the formation of the National-led coalition government, she assumed the portfolios of Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration.[15]

On 26 January 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon added responsibility for the government's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care to Stanford's portfolios.[16] Stanford succeeds previous Ministers of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti and Tracey Martin in having responsibility for the Royal Commission.[citation needed]

Education

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On 27 January 2024 Stanford, in her capacity as Education Minister, announced an inquiry into school property projects. She said that the Government had inherited an education system "bordering on crisis". Stanford confirmed that the Ministry of Education had identified 350 projects that had exceeded their budget and had paused 20 building projects.[17]

On 29 April 2024, Stanford announced the Government's top six educational priorities to mark the start of the second term. These included a clearer curriculum, focusing on literacy and numeracy, more consistent assessment and achievement reporting, better teacher training, _targeted support for students with special needs and an evidence-based approach to educational improvement.[18] That same day, the Government's school cellphone ban came into force.[19] On 2 May, Stanford confirmed that the Government would be mandating a structured literacy approach in all state schools from 2025.[20] In addition, Stanford confirmed that the Government would end funding for the existing reading recovery programme, which utilises a "whole language" approach based on using pictures to help children guess words.[21]

On 26 May 2024, Stanford announced that the Government would invest NZ$53 million in education including in-school training for new teachers and recruiting, retaining and training 1,500 new teachers (including 300 overseas teachers) over the next four years.[22]

In early August 2024, Stanford and Luxon announced the Government's "Maths Action Plan" to roll out a new mathematics curriculum from 2025. The new curriculum would including twice-annual maths assessments, new teaching resources for primary and secondary schools, boosting funding for teaching professional development and remedial support, and raising maths entry requirements for new teachers.[23] In response, the New Zealand Educational Institute expressed concerns that rapid changes to the maths and literacy curriculum and the short teaching training timeframe would strain the teaching workforce without delivering on its goals.[24]

On 26 September 2024, Stanford announced the Government would allocate NZ$30 million from the "Te Ahu o te Reo Māori" teacher training programme to revamping the school maths curriculum.[25]

On 21 November 2024, Stanford apologised after allegedly swearing at Labour's education spokesperson Jan Tinetti during a Parliamentary Question Time session. Labour MP Duncan Webb had complained about Stanford's unparliamentary remark to the House Speaker and suggested that she apologise for her comment. Stanford subsequently withdrew her remark and apologised.[26]

Immigration

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On 7 April 2024 Stanford, as Immigration Minister, announced that the Government would be revising the Accredited Employer Worker Visa programme to address migrant exploitation and "unsustainable" net migration.[27]

In late June 2024, Stanford announced that low-skilled Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders at Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) levels 4 and 5 (the equivalent of NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3) would no longer be able to sponsor work, visitor or student visa applications for partners and dependent children. Stanford had earlier said that changes to the AEWV scheme were prompted by the Government's desire to strike a balance between recruiting highly-skilled migrants and reducing pressure on infrastructure, health and education services. The Union Network of Migrants, a division of FIRST Union, criticised Stanford for failing to engage with migrants, community groups and migrant advocates.[28]

In August 2024, Stuff reported that Stanford had declined a motion by the Dunedin City Council to create a special visa pathway for the Gazan relatives of Palestinian New Zealanders displaced by the Israel-Hamas war, stating that any future decision about visa pathway changes would be made at the Cabinet-level. Stanford also turned down a request from Mayor of Dunedin Jules Radich, Dunedin Councillor Christine Garey and local Palestinian leader Mai Tamimi to discuss the matter, citing pressures in her Minister's diary.[29]

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care

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As Minister in charge of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, Stanford announced on 30 October 2024 that the Government would address a parity issue in a NZ$6.5 million compensation settlement with 95 Lake Alice Hospital survivors in 2001. Survivors received an average of NZ$41,000 in individual payments, with NZ$27,000 being deducted in legal fees for each claimant. Further claimants received an average of NZ$70,000 since the New Zealand Crown covered their legal costs. While Stanford confirmed that survivors would be reimbursed between NZ$15,000 and NZ$55,000 each, these reimbursements would not be adjusted for inflation.[30]

On 18 December 2024, Stanford announced that the Government would offer survivors of torture at Lake Alice Hospital a lump payment of at least NZ$150,000, having set aside NZ$22.68 million for the redress scheme. In addition, survivors could request for an individual assessment from an independent arbitrator. The minister said:[31]

Views and positions

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In her maiden speech Stanford spoke on matters of conservation, sustainability, marriage based on love rather than gender, and a desire to see political parties work with one another to seek enduring, practical solutions.[32] In a 2018 interview, she said her priorities in her first term included resourcing police stations in her electorate, improving local roading projects, and supporting local schools.[2]

Stanford's political views sit on the progressive side of the National Party. She supported decriminalising abortion and allowing euthanasia in conscience votes in 2019. She has sat on the environmental select committee and has been involved in developing National's environmental policies.[6] In 2019 she supported students who were striking for climate action, despite her party leader and many other National MPs initially opposing them.[33] She believes that the Green Party could work with National, saying that if the Greens "could just relax a little bit... they could do so much good."[4] Stanford says that her blood "runs blue and it always will", but acknowledges a touch of green, saying "maybe it's a tealy blue".[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Roll of members of the New Zealand House of Representatives, 1854 onwards" (PDF). New Zealand Parliament. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Bennett, Aidan (March 2018). "A Chat with Erica Stanford". www.channelmag.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Meet the backbencher: Erica Stanford". The New Zealand Herald. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Murphy, Tim (26 June 2017). "The Sure Things: Erica Stanford". Newsroom. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b "National selects East Coast Bays candidate – Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Walls, Jason (22 October 2019). "A short lunch: For years she produced reality TV shows, now she sits in Parliament – meet Erica Stanford". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. ^ Vance, Andrea (14 November 2021). "National's Erica Stanford – a shining star in a dull sky?". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b "New candidate selected to contest National's East Coast Bays electorate". Stuff. 10 January 2017.
  9. ^ "East Coast Bays – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  10. ^ Adams, Josie (10 August 2020). "Central heating: fringe parties pipe up from crowd in first Auckland debate". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  11. ^ "East Coast Bays – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. ^ "National reshuffle: Judith Collins and Todd McClay the losers, Chris Bishop, Erica Stanford shoot up ranks". NZ Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  13. ^ Whyte, Anna; Producer, Senior Digital Political. "Opinion: The winners and losers in National's new line up". 1 News. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  14. ^ "East Coast Bays – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Who gets what? List of New Zealand's new ministers". 1News. TVNZ. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  16. ^ Luxon, Christopher (26 January 2024). "New Associate Minister and Under-Secretary portfolio allocations". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  17. ^ "School building inquiry 'absolutely not' a cost cut exercise – Erica Stanford". Radio New Zealand. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  18. ^ Pearse, Adam; Trevett, Claire (29 April 2024). "Education: PM Christopher Luxon, Education Minister Erica Stanford outline Government's six priorities". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  19. ^ Burns, Adam (29 April 2024). "School phone ban: How effective will it be?". RNZ. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  20. ^ Swift, Molly (2 May 2024). "Structured literacy: Government to roll out new approach to reading in all state schools". Newshub. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Erica Stanford confirms end of reading recovery programme in schools, doesn't rule out job losses". Newshub. 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ "$53m extra for teacher training, recruitment, Education Minister Erica Stanford announces". RNZ. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  23. ^ Luxon, Chris; Stanford, Erica (4 August 2024). "Government transforms maths education". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  24. ^ Nightingale, Melissa (4 August 2024). "Government's maths teaching changes not in line with expert recommendations, union says". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  25. ^ Maher, Rachel (26 September 2024). "Education Minister Erica Stanford reveals $30m cut to te reo Māori funding to boost maths curriculum". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  26. ^ Collins, Benedict (21 November 2024). "Education Minister accused of calling Labour MP a 'stupid b****'". 1 News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Immigration changes to _target 'unsustainable' migration". Radio New Zealand. 7 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Migrant group horrified by 'ruthless' changes to visa scheme". RNZ. 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  29. ^ McNeilly, Hamish (18 August 2024). "Immigration Minister brushes off Palestinian special visa request". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  30. ^ Ensor, Jamie (30 October 2024). "Government reveals next steps for Lake Alice survivors after Abuse in Care findings". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Watch: Lake Alice survivors to get $150,000 each in redress". RNZ. 18 December 2024. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  32. ^ "New National MP wants cross-party pragmatic solutions". The New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2017.
  33. ^ McIlraith, Brianna (3 May 2019). "National MP Erica Stanford backs school climate strikes, unlike party leaders". Stuff. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for East Coast Bays
2017–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Education
2023–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of Immigration
2023–present
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