"Parents have stood alone. Not anymore" – Parents’ Alliance launches to give parents and grandparents a voice in New Zealand education

The Parents’ Alliance launches tonight in Wellington with six policies called: “Six for our Kids” and a call for parents to add their name to parentsalliance.nz

The Parents’ Alliance Te Kotahitanga o ngā Mātua, Le Lotogatasi o Mātua, 家长联盟, पारिवारिक मंच launches tonight, giving New Zealand parents and grandparents a non-partisan, organised voice in education policy.

Co-founder and Executive Director Anya Zohrab said the Parents’ Alliance exists because parents care deeply about their children’s education and have no voice in the policy debate.

“We love our kids fiercely. We have the most stake in what happens in New Zealand’s classrooms and early learning centers. But we have not had an organised voice of our own,” said Anya Zohrab.

“Teachers have unions. Principals have associations. Ministers have ministries. Parents and grandparents have no one. The Parents’ Alliance speaks for them,” she said.

The Parents’ Alliance is chaired by economist Cam Bagrie, former Chief Economist at ANZ, who set out the evidence at the launch. In 2003, one in five New Zealand 15-year-olds performed at the top levels in mathematics. By 2025 that had fallen to one in ten. Over the same period, the share who lacked basic mathematical proficiency almost doubled, from 15 per cent to 29 per cent.

“We need to lift the bottom; and we are losing the top. The gap between our highest and lowest performing students has long been wider than the OECD average,” Bagrie said. “We need change.”

“The education standards of today will define where New Zealand sits in thirty years, economically and socially. We must get education right to lift productivity, living standards and the whole country.” he said.

The Parents’ Alliance launches with the Six for our Kids, six commitments parents and grandparents are being asked to add their name to:

1. Learning comes first. Your child’s progress and achievement must be top priority.
2. Well-trained teachers. Every child taught by someone genuinely ready for the classroom.
3. Standards. Clear measures, so your child’s school report is meaningful.
4. A fair start. More support for kids who start behind, before disadvantage becomes destiny.
5. Real choice. The school that is right for your child, with fewer zoning barriers.
6. Every parent’s voice, heard. Annual parental satisfaction surveys, published, so schools listen to you and improve.

Independent polling from Curia Research shows all six policies have positive net public support - among National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First and Green voters, and among Māori respondents. Figures are in the background note below.

“The polling demonstrates what we already know.  Kiwi parents want the same things for their children:  a fair start, schools focused on progress and achievement, teachers who are properly prepared for the classroom.  We want honest information about children’s progress, choice around what school we choose, and a genuine say in the system,” said Cam Bagrie.

“Disadvantage cannot create destiny.  A child sitting in the classroom in one of the highest-need schools in the country deserves access to an education as good as the education available in our wealthiest suburbs,” said Bagrie.  “We need equality of opportunity to ensure every child can reach their potential. And no child should be held back in the name of ‘fairness’, because it isn’t fair.”

The Board includes:

• Cameron Bagrie – father of two, leading economic commentator and former Chief Economist at ANZ, who now runs Bagrie Economics.
• Anya Zohrab – mother of three, a public policy specialist who has advised Ministers in both Labour-led and coalition governments.
• Hon Kris Faafoi – father of three, former Minister of the Crown and Chief Executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand.
• David Farrar – father of two, founder of Curia Market Research and editor of Kiwiblog.
• Cat Moody – mother of two, a public policy specialist whose career includes roles at the New Zealand Treasury, HM Treasury in the United Kingdom and the World Bank, as well as advising both Labour and National Finance Ministers.
• Joanne Chadlow – mother of four, whose career spans property valuation, commercial banking and school governance.

Between them, their children are or have been educated in early childhood, state, state-integrated, private and home-school settings.

The Parents’ Alliance won’t take up individual grievances on a parent’s behalf, nor it is a parenting organisation.

“If you’re a parent or grandparent, visit www.parentsalliance.nz. Show your support, add your name. It’s free.  Ask ten other people to do the same,” said Anya Zohrab.

“Research and advocacy require resources. The unions are funded through teachers’ salaries.  They play an important role in the education system”, said Bagrie. “Parents and grandparents also need an organised voice.  Otherwise, the interests of our children risk being overshadowed by those who already have strong representation.”

We understand the need for teachers to be well supported but sometimes the needs of teachers, an example being teacher only days in term time, conflicts with parents and common sense. 

“A healthy education system needs a range of voices around the table. Sometimes that will require constructive tension between parties. That will always be respectful from our side. The Parents’ Alliance will provide that balance by ensuring the perspectives of parents, whanau and families are heard,” said Bagrie. “Parents have stood outside the school gate for long enough. Not anymore.  Now parents have a voice.”

Go to www.parentsalliance.nz Add your name. It’s free.

About The Parents’ Alliance / Te Kotahitanga o ngā Mātua / Le Lotogatasi o Mātua / 家长联盟 / पारिवारिक मंच

The Parents’ Alliance is a non-partisan movement giving New Zealand parents a strong and constructive voice in education policy. It advocates for proven policies from the world’s best education systems, adapted for the New Zealand context, and campaigns on six commitments in its policies. Its vision is a world-class New Zealand education system that gives every child the academic foundations, skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Background note: polling

Curia Research, nationally representative polling (May 2025 and August 2026 rounds). Net support is support minus opposition. For example, 'learning first' has 4 percentage points net positive support from Green voters.  This means 4 percentage points more voters supported the policy than opposed it, not that only 4% of Green voters supported it.

All six policies record positive net support overall, across National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First and Green voters, and among Māori respondents.

• Learning comes first: +47% (Māori respondents +32%)
• Well-trained teachers: +71% (Māori respondents +58%)
• Standards: +71% (Māori respondents +69%)
• A fair start: +65% (Māori respondents +76%)
• Real choice: +40% (Māori respondents +27%)
• Every parent’s voice, heard: +40% (Māori respondents +39%)

Background note: achievement data

Mathematics performance figures are drawn from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), comparing New Zealand 15-year-olds in 2003 and 2025.

Media contact

Cam Bagrie, Chair and Spokesperson, The Parents’ Alliance - 027 290 9844
hello@parentsalliance.nz | www.parentsalliance.nz