Mallard has financial ambitions

Education Minster Trevor Mallard has revealed his political ambitions - he wants to be finance minister.

The former accountant and teacher visited an early childhood centre and two schools in Auckland yesterday on a charm offensive.

At Nga Iwi Primary School in Mangere he faced questions from a number of eager children aged between 5 and 11.

Asked what he would do if he was not Education Minister, Mr Mallard said he would "one day like to be minister of finance".

He also summed up much of Labour's policy, telling the children the two most important aspects of the job were helping parents understand what was happening in the classroom and "helping teachers get better so you can learn more".