Teaching is skilled work, not an insult: Parents’ Alliance responds to Michael Laws

MEDIA RELEASE

4 November 2026

Teaching is skilled work, not an insult: Parents’ Alliance responds to Michael Laws

Mother of three and Executive Director of The Parents' Alliance Anya Zohrab says NZ First candidate Michael Laws' use of "female primary school teacher" as an insult downgrades a skilled and vital profession.

Mr Laws described an Opportunity Party candidate as resembling "every officious primary school teacher, female that I'd ever come across", before making a sexual remark about her.

"When I heard it, I thought straight away of my children's teachers," says Ms Zohrab.

"Teaching a five-year-old to read is one of the most skilled jobs there is. A primary teacher has to know how reading, writing and maths are learned. They have to work out exactly where each of 25 or more children is up to, often with many learning needs in the room, and adjust their teaching every day so no one falls behind. That takes deep knowledge, careful planning and expert judgement."

Ms Zohrab says the quality of teaching is the most important in-school factor in a child's education.

"Nothing outweighs what happens between a teacher and a classroom. My kids' teachers have taught them to read, write and do maths, and given them the confidence that comes with that. On Sunday afternoons I see my daughter's teacher's car at school while she plans the week's lessons. And yes, she has also saved a lost tooth for the tooth fairy."

She says comments like Mr Laws' reinforce the idea that primary teaching is a lesser job.

"Every time the profession is talked down, it gets harder to attract and keep the great teachers our kids need. If we want the best people in our classrooms, we have to value teaching for what it is.”

ENDS