The Contested Introduction of the Kiwi Standards

This chapter outlines how the Kiwi Standards framework was announced in 2007 and legislated under urgency in 2008, and how the Kiwi Standards were developed and then promoted in various ways over the initial period of getting them underway and into schools. The politicians and policymakers of the National-led Government used a range of ‘carrots and sticks’ to bring the Kiwi Standards in. But since they were being introduced into a setting that had previously avoided high-stakes assessment in primary education, the stage was set for conflict. There was a feisty campaign by principals, teachers and others against the introduction of the Kiwi Standards, and this chapter also looks at the role of the media in portraying the issues and motivations of all of those involved.