Complaints at politicking

An Education Ministry contractor who allegedly encouraged 200 teachers to vote Labour has sparked a complaint to the State Services Commission.

Some early-childhood teachers were shocked by comments made at a professional development seminar.

The one-day workshop in Wellington on Saturday was run by a ministry-contracted expert and ended with a slide show about the benefits of the Labour Government for early childhood education.

One course participant said she was shocked to hear the speaker tell her audience that "Labour had done more for early childhood education than any party" and to think carefully when it came to voting.

"Regardless of what political opinion she was expressing, I believe it is inappropriate to use these workshops to promote political views," she told the Early Childhood Council.

Ministry early childhood curriculum manager Patricia Nally said she was aware of "the incident" and had spoken to the contractor involved.

- NZPA