Michael Woodhouse MP: Improving access to Early Childhood Education

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Improving access to Early Childhood Education

Waitakere and Northland are the first regions to benefit from the Budget 2010 funding boost of $91.8 million to increase participation in early childhood education.

The extra funding provides ECE access to an extra 3500 children in areas of high need. In some parts of Waitakere, 25 per cent of Pasifika and one in five Maori children miss out on ECE. In parts of Northland a quarter of Maori children start school without early childhood education.

We want local people to drive solutions. We will work with community groups on the reasons for low participation, and the best approach to reach families. The new programmes in Waitakere and Northland involve building new services, funding supported playgroups, and street side playgroups in local communities.

National is committed to early childhood education, and our approach is flexible enough to benefit all our young children.

More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/waitakere+and+northland+first+benefit+918+million+ece+boost

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Background:

I was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Hospital Dunedin, a position I held for 7 ½ years. Previous to that I held senior management positions with ACC, where I was instrumental in implementing ACC’s Elective Services Contracting framework and at Dunedin Hospital in change management, revenue and planning roles.

I was educated at St Pauls High School (now Kavanagh College) and graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I am a Chartered Accountant and also have a Master of Health Administration from the University of New South Wales.

I was also the President of the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association and have also been the Vice President of the NZ Private Hospitals Association, a larger organisation which included the private aged care sector. I am also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

I have been a Rotarian since 2001 and am active in community and voluntary work in the region. I am an avid rugby fan, having played age group representative rugby for Otago and South Island teams and am a premier grade referee as well as a “fair weather” runner. My wife Amanda and I and our three daughters have a crib in Cromwell and in our spare time enjoy the great outdoors of Central Otago.

Responsibilities:

I am a member of the Health Select Committee, and of the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee.

I am also a member of the National Party’s Economic and Commerce Caucus Committee.

My Commitment as Your MP:

I firmly believe in the values that underpin the National Party – loyalty, security, equity of opportunity, freedom and choice, limited Government, strong families, caring communities and a sustainable environment.

I commit to maintaining those values and working on your behalf to ensure that these important principles are upheld. Although not an electorate MP, I believe all MPs have a responsibility to represent and advocate for the people in their communities.