Mr Wellington to step down

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 1

Mr Wellington to step down

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington The former Minister of Education, Mr Merv Wellington, will not seek reelection to Parliament Mr Wellington’s announcement signals the end of one of the stormiest Parliamentary careers in recent times. His record as Minister of Education and his outspoken conservatism on most issues made him a prominent political figure. Mr Wellington wrote on February 4 to Mrs L. Blackbourne, secretary of the Papakura National Party electorate committee, informing her of his decision. “If I stood as an Independent National candidate I have become increasingly aware that to do so would unfairly compromise many people in the electorate,” he said. “It is considered that in the event of the sitting member standing as an Independent, the seat might be made merely easier for the Labour Party to secure. Therefore, I-cannot pursue this course of action. “I have not been subjected to any pressure from any source in arriving at this decision, which is mine and mine alone,” Mr Wellington said. “I shall not involve myself in the selection of my successor, but will continue to serve my Papakura electorate until the next General Election.” Mr Wellington did not

shine noticeably as a backbench member between 1975 and 1978, but was a forceful speaker with an unshakeable loyalty to his leader in a period when National had such a huge majority in Parliament that it produced a number of mavericks.

So, when Sir Robert appointed him Minister of Education in 1978, he was.. something of an unknown quantity to the public and in the education field. However, he had been a schoolteacher before his election to Parliament and had firm ideas about what sort of education system he wanted. 1 For almost six years he was Minister of Education in the two Governments of Sir Robert Muldoon, in 1978-81 and 1981-84. Mr Wellington was an avid supporter of Sir Robert. This was evident when he was first elected member for Papakura (an electorate on the southern fringes of Auckland) in 1975 in the landslide National victory under Sir Robert.

His progress as Minister is set out in the autobiography he published late last year. He soon fell out with the main teacher lobby groups — the Post-Prlm-aiy Teachers’ Association and the New Zealand Educational Institute — and his relations with teachers, academics, and lobbyists in the education field got progressively worse over the years. By

the time of the 1984 General Election he had become the most hated Minister of Education within memory. In two areas of education development his presence was particularly striking. First, he led the integration of church and private schools. In this he fell foul of most people In the State education system, who criticised him for sidetracking funds, but his system of integration has largely stood the test of time and many schools in financial difficulties took advantage of it Second, he led the “back to basics” drive in education, and made progress in the teeth of opposition from teachers and his own department He frustrated efforts to teach sex education in schools, and wanted schools to be places of “learning” rather than “development.” He also promoted nationalism and loyalty and wanted school flags reintroduced.

His loyalty to Sir Robert and his opposition to the new leadership of the National Party have brought him plenty of brickbats since National lost the 1984 General Election.

When late last year, after months of criticism, Sir Robert was demoted to No. 38 and bottom ranking within the National Party in Parliament, Mr Wellington was demoted to No. 37 to sit next to him.