COVID-19 Open letter to PM

Tēnā koe e te Pirimia,

Ka nui rā āku mihi ki a koe, môu i kaha rawa te arataki i te haumaru mõ ngā tangata katoa.

Teachers and education leaders play a very important role in New Zealand, especially during challenging times. They do what's needed and have always led in times of national crisis. They have done so during earthquakes, the Pike River disaster and the Christchurch shootings. They take their leadership role seriously.

We have been communicating with teachers over the weekend and we’ve listened to their concerns. They want to support you and Aotearoa to flatten the curve. However, they want you to know, if you do not move now, they cannot see how they can protect their learners, themselves nor their loved ones at home.

As the voice of teachers, the Council, on behalf of all teachers, implores you to act now and to move to Alert Level-4, closing early childhood centres and schools. The Council supports you and your leadership of Aotearoa, but please - help us to keep our tamariki and rangatahi safe. We can only do that, if you allow us to keep ourselves and our loved ones, safe too.

E te Pirimia kia tau ai te haumaru, te whatungakau, me te wairua ki runga i a koe me Aotearoa katoa.

Nāku ā ngākau whakaiti nei

Lesley Hoskin,

Chief Executive

Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand