‘Human error’: Education Minister admits sending National Party video to principals through ministerial email

Education Minister Erica Stanford says the link was included through human error. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Education Minister Erica Stanford is copping criticism after an email from her ministerial address urged principals to show their teachers a promotional video published by the National Party’s YouTube channel.

Labour says it is “completely inappropriate” for Stanford to use government resources to promote party content, while Stanford claims “human error” is to blame.

The email, sent Tuesday morning to primary and intermediate school principals nationwide, was sent from Stanford’s ministerial address with the subject line “SMART now available - please share with your staff”.

Smart was a reference to a new assessment tool for students in Years 3 to 10, which tracked their progress in reading, writing and maths.

Stanford’s email said the tool gave teachers “clear, consistent information that reflects what students have been learning in the classroom, so you can see what they know, where the gaps are, and what they’re ready to learn next”.

She referenced “practical guidance” offered by the Ministry of Education but then pointed to a video link which would explain “what Smart will mean in the classroom, and how it can support teaching and learning”.

Clicking the link took the user to the National Party’s YouTube channel and to a short video of Stanford seated, facing the camera and explaining the tool.

Other recent videos uploaded to the YouTube channel included Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis’ response to the Middle East conflict, clips promoting National policies and attack videos directed at Labour.

A response to Stanford’s email, viewed by the Herald, appeared to show a principal refusing to show their teachers the video because it was published by a party account as opposed to the ministry.

“I request that material and resources to be shared with my staff in future come through the appropriate channels and that your office considers more carefully the political neutrality of our schools and education system as a whole.”

Reaction to Stanford’s email on social media, seen by the Herald, has also reflected that sentiment.

Labour’s education spokeswoman Ginny Andersen condemned the inclusion of a video published on National’s social media.

“It is completely inappropriate for a minister to use Ministry of Education contact lists and government resources to distribute National Party videos,” she said.

“Erica Stanford should know better than this by now.”

The video could be viewed late on Tuesday night. Shortly after the Herald contacted Stanford’s office about the video, the link was no longer functional and the video couldn’t be found on National’s YouTube channel.

A spokesperson for Stanford then confirmed they were aware of the video, admitting it was “human error” and had been taken down with plans to send a new email on Wednesday with the correct link.

Asked for a response to Labour’s criticism, the spokesperson said: “This was a ministerial video for teachers that was simply uploaded to the wrong channel and has been rectified.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.