The headline on a report in the Post aroused PoO’s interest:
Former Free Speech head’s ‘useful skill set’ helped set up parent lobby group
The headline echoed the content of the first two sentences:
The former head of the Free Speech Union used his “helpful skillset” to get a new parent advocacy group off the ground.
Jonathan Ayling, who stepped down from the Free Speech Union in August 2025, was involved with the recently launched Parents’ Alliance in its early days.
It seems to be a matter of public concern that we know of Ayling’s involvement.
But why?
Education writer Amy Ridout reminds us of what previously she had reported:
The Parents’ Alliance launched last month as a parent-centric lobby group that wants to address declining achievement and unequal outcomes.
Its board consists of former ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie, former political adviser Anya Zohrab, former MP and Labour minister Kris Faafoi, consultant Cat Moody, blogger, Curia Market Research founder and Taxpayers’ Union co-founder David Farrar, and property developer Joanne Chaplow.
In her latest report, Ridout puts the spotlight – a somewhat dim one – on the involvement of Jonathan Ayling.
On its constitution he is listed as a director – a position a spokesperson said he held for seven days.
The constitution document lists two other directors: Ayling, and John Fiso. Fiso founded the New Zealand Institute of Sport, sat on the Charter School Establishment Board and other boards relating to education and Pasifika communities. Ayling is a strategy consultant and professional director.
It is hard to determine if Ayling has done something admirable or something unseemly.
He told The Post he had gone to just one meeting, when the constitution was approved.
He said he was no longer involved with the group, but was “broadly supportive” of what it was doing.
Parents’ Alliance chairperson Cameron Bagrie is quoted as saying Ayling had helped shape the constitution.
His involvement ended after the constitution was signed.
The reporter then turned to David Farrar, who runs market research firm Curia, which produces the Taxpayers’ Union-Curia political poll and the National Party’s internal polling.
He said Ayling had been involved for “two months or so”, during a “hectic” period as they formed the group.
“I made the approach to Jonathan because he had the experience … to help get us established.”
Ayling had been involved for “two months or so”, during a “hectic” period as they formed the group.
It had been Ayling’s decision to move on, Farrar said.
Hmm. There are differences on the amount of time Aling devoted to the cause – but does anyone much care?
Of greater interest was Farrar’s saying the idea for a parent-led group had been born in 2023, when he heard that the draft science curriculum did not mention physics, biology or chemistry.
That raises questions about the importance of the teaching of science in our schools and the contentious matter of whether matauranga Maori should be included in those lessons.
It is involved in Government funding programmes for science and innovation.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website contains information on the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund 2027 Investment Plan.
This investment plan outlines the policy context for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund. Up to $8.6 million (excluding GST) is available to fund successful proposals in each investment round.
The fund
… focuses on achieving excellence and impact by investing in the development of people and organisations with the skills and capacity to develop high quality, innovative solutions through science, innovation and technology that promote economic growth and support the Vision Mātauranga Policy.
Proposals for securing some of this dosh must be co-developed between research organisations and “Māori-facing” organisations.
Examples of research partnership schemes include the formation and support of groups of researchers across organisations “to collaborate on Vision Mātauranga capability building initiatives for scientific research programmes and provide mutual support/mentoring”.
But Anya Zohrab did not mention science in an article she wrote for The Post as co-founder and establishment executive director of The Parents’ Alliance.
Nor is science mentioned in Amy Ridout’s report last month at the time of the launch of The Parents’ Alliance.
She said then the group had identified six commitments: progress and achievement; well-trained teachers; clear assessment and reporting standards; a fair start; choice in school, and consideration given to parents’ voices.
Group chair Cameron Bagrie told her declining educational standards were one of the group’s major drivers.
While parents had a say on school governance via boards, the group would take a wider view at the way policy shaped the education system.
It would collate best practice and recommendations from organisations like the OECD, Bagrie said.
PoO is aware of a Newsroom article today headed Inside The Parents’ Alliance, the new lobby group pushing govt school reforms
Board members include former political advisers and right-wing pollster David Farrar, with links to right-wing lobby groups, but the group insists it is non-partisan.
Alas, the rest of the article is behind a paywall, although it is likely to become freely available tomorrow.
It will be fascinating to see if they have winkled out something The Post has missed
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE.
Jonathan Ayling, who stepped down from the Free Speech Union in August 2025, was involved with the recently launched Parents’ Alliance in its early days.
It seems to be a matter of public concern that we know of Ayling’s involvement.
But why?
Education writer Amy Ridout reminds us of what previously she had reported:
The Parents’ Alliance launched last month as a parent-centric lobby group that wants to address declining achievement and unequal outcomes.
Its board consists of former ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie, former political adviser Anya Zohrab, former MP and Labour minister Kris Faafoi, consultant Cat Moody, blogger, Curia Market Research founder and Taxpayers’ Union co-founder David Farrar, and property developer Joanne Chaplow.
In her latest report, Ridout puts the spotlight – a somewhat dim one – on the involvement of Jonathan Ayling.
On its constitution he is listed as a director – a position a spokesperson said he held for seven days.
The constitution document lists two other directors: Ayling, and John Fiso. Fiso founded the New Zealand Institute of Sport, sat on the Charter School Establishment Board and other boards relating to education and Pasifika communities. Ayling is a strategy consultant and professional director.
It is hard to determine if Ayling has done something admirable or something unseemly.
He told The Post he had gone to just one meeting, when the constitution was approved.
He said he was no longer involved with the group, but was “broadly supportive” of what it was doing.
Parents’ Alliance chairperson Cameron Bagrie is quoted as saying Ayling had helped shape the constitution.
His involvement ended after the constitution was signed.
The reporter then turned to David Farrar, who runs market research firm Curia, which produces the Taxpayers’ Union-Curia political poll and the National Party’s internal polling.
He said Ayling had been involved for “two months or so”, during a “hectic” period as they formed the group.
“I made the approach to Jonathan because he had the experience … to help get us established.”
Ayling had been involved for “two months or so”, during a “hectic” period as they formed the group.
It had been Ayling’s decision to move on, Farrar said.
Hmm. There are differences on the amount of time Aling devoted to the cause – but does anyone much care?
Of greater interest was Farrar’s saying the idea for a parent-led group had been born in 2023, when he heard that the draft science curriculum did not mention physics, biology or chemistry.
That raises questions about the importance of the teaching of science in our schools and the contentious matter of whether matauranga Maori should be included in those lessons.
It is involved in Government funding programmes for science and innovation.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website contains information on the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund 2027 Investment Plan.
This investment plan outlines the policy context for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund. Up to $8.6 million (excluding GST) is available to fund successful proposals in each investment round.
The fund
… focuses on achieving excellence and impact by investing in the development of people and organisations with the skills and capacity to develop high quality, innovative solutions through science, innovation and technology that promote economic growth and support the Vision Mātauranga Policy.
Proposals for securing some of this dosh must be co-developed between research organisations and “Māori-facing” organisations.
Examples of research partnership schemes include the formation and support of groups of researchers across organisations “to collaborate on Vision Mātauranga capability building initiatives for scientific research programmes and provide mutual support/mentoring”.
But Anya Zohrab did not mention science in an article she wrote for The Post as co-founder and establishment executive director of The Parents’ Alliance.
Nor is science mentioned in Amy Ridout’s report last month at the time of the launch of The Parents’ Alliance.
She said then the group had identified six commitments: progress and achievement; well-trained teachers; clear assessment and reporting standards; a fair start; choice in school, and consideration given to parents’ voices.
Group chair Cameron Bagrie told her declining educational standards were one of the group’s major drivers.
While parents had a say on school governance via boards, the group would take a wider view at the way policy shaped the education system.
It would collate best practice and recommendations from organisations like the OECD, Bagrie said.
PoO is aware of a Newsroom article today headed Inside The Parents’ Alliance, the new lobby group pushing govt school reforms
Board members include former political advisers and right-wing pollster David Farrar, with links to right-wing lobby groups, but the group insists it is non-partisan.
Alas, the rest of the article is behind a paywall, although it is likely to become freely available tomorrow.
It will be fascinating to see if they have winkled out something The Post has missed
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE.
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