The Education Minister's hoping walls will soon be up in most open-plan classrooms - but admits some will have to wait.

The Government halted building any new open-plan classrooms last year - and committed $10 million to build walls in existing ones. 

Erica Stanford pledged another $31 million for new walls today.

But she explained that for some schools, it's not as easy as putting up a gib wall. 

"The complex ones - we are going to have to spend a bit of time actually planning and potentially getting consents, because they're dealing with fire exits and HVAC systems."

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The Education Minister's hoping walls will soon be up in most open-plan classrooms - but admits some will have to wait.
The Government halted building any new open-plan classrooms last year - and committed $10 million to build walls in existing ones.&nbsp;
Erica Stanford pledged another $31 million for new walls today.
But she explained that for some schools, it's not as easy as putting up a gib wall.&nbsp;
"The complex ones - we are going to have to spend a bit of time actually planning and potentially getting consents, because they're dealing with fire exits and HVAC systems."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Erica Stanford: Education Minister on the plan to build more walls in open-plan classrooms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/67ae47fa-f5b3-4a31-bff0-b4ab005fd9ad/transcript

Instagram and Tiktok could soon become off-limits for under-16s.

A new Online Safety Bill introduced to Parliament today requires a range of social media platforms to block teen accounts. 

It establishes a regulator to monitor compliance, and fines for companies not following the law. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford says it builds on lessons from Australia's ban. 

She says our legislation will be different in explicitly ruling out check-box age verification to make accounts.

"Lots of children were using that to get around it, so that's why you saw in the beginning that it wasn't having the same level of effectiveness." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Instagram and Tiktok could soon become off-limits for under-16s.
A new Online Safety Bill introduced to Parliament today requires a range of social media platforms to block teen accounts.&nbsp;
It establishes a regulator to monitor compliance, and fines for companies not following the law.&nbsp;
Education Minister Erica Stanford says it builds on lessons from Australia's ban.&nbsp;
She says our legislation will be different in explicitly ruling out check-box age verification to make accounts.
"Lots of children were using that to get around it, so that's why you saw in the beginning that it wasn't having the same level of effectiveness."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Erica Stanford: Education Minister on the Government moving ahead with social media ban for under-16s

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2a22ed90-03c7-43d9-a5bc-b4b0005c4494/transcript

A teen social media ban, resembling one pioneered by Australia, is being introduced to Parliament today.

The Online Safety Bill requires platforms like Instagram and TikTok to block accounts for under-16s, and set up stronger age verification. 

Failing to do so could bring penalties worth up to 10 percent of global revenue.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's important to find a solution - as social media usage is a concern impacting all parents.  

LISTEN ABOVE

A teen social media ban, resembling one pioneered by Australia, is being introduced to Parliament today.
The Online Safety Bill requires platforms like Instagram and TikTok to block accounts for under-16s, and set up stronger age verification.&nbsp;
Failing to do so could bring penalties worth up to 10 percent of global revenue.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's important to find a solution - as social media usage is a concern impacting all parents.&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the Government introducing their own teen social media ban

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/19c42fca-deed-4552-a23c-b4b000547a6c/transcript

Over in Australia, new data shows renting a unit now costs more than half the median take-home pay of a single worker in every capital city.

Data shows northern WA, the Gold Coast and Sydney were the most expensive places to rent, but even cheaper places like Adelaide would cost workers more than half their pay for a rental. 

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's less homebuyers than ever, leading to more people putting pressure on the rental market. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Over in Australia, new data shows renting a unit now costs more than half the median take-home pay of a single worker in every capital city.
Data shows northern WA, the Gold Coast and Sydney were the most expensive places to rent, but even cheaper places like Adelaide would cost workers more than half their pay for a rental.&nbsp;
Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's less homebuyers than ever, leading to more people putting pressure on the rental market.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on Australian rental prices increasing to more than half of median take-home pay

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0841b86e-189d-47a6-abb2-b4b000533212/transcript

Erica Stanford: Education Minister on the plan to build more walls in open-plan classrooms

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