This Amendment Paper amends the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) (the Bill) to make changes to the membership of the Teaching Council.

The Amendment Paper inserts new clause 15AAA into the Bill, which amends section 475 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act). Section 475 sets out the membership arrangements for the Teaching Council. New clause 15AAA—

• increases the number of Teaching Council members appointed by the Minister from 6 to 7; and

• decreases the number of elected Teaching Council members from 7 to 6 by removing the teacher educator member who is elected by registered teachers working in the fields of initial and ongoing teacher education; and

• makes technical amendments as a consequence of these changes.

The Amendment Paper also inserts new clause 15AAB, which amends section 477 of the Act. Section 477 sets out the circumstances in which a person is disqualified from being a member of the Teaching Council. New clause 15AAB makes a consequential amendment to section 477 as a result of the changes made by new clause 15AAA.

The Amendment Paper also amends Schedule 1 of the Bill, by inserting new clauses 130 and 131 into new Part 7 of Schedule 1 of the Act. New clauses 130 and 131 are transitional provisions that provide that—

• the term of office for the teacher educator member of the Teaching Council ends on the commencement date of the Bill; and

• in appointing the new member of the Teaching Council for the first time, the Minister does not need to first consult representatives of parent and community interest groups in relation to schools and early childhood services as required by section 476(3) of the Act.

The Amendment Paper also amends Schedule 2 of the Bill to make consequential amendments to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand Election Rules 2018 as a result of the changes made to section 475.