Willow-Jean Prime
Willow-Jean Prime is a Labour Party MP and the party's spokesperson for children, known for her advocacy on issues related to youth justice. She recently questioned Chhour in Parliament regarding the outcomes of a youth rehabilitation pilot program, emphasizing the need for accountability and clarity on participant statistics.
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Recent news mentions
Willow-Jean Prime is a Labour MP who stood in Northland during the last election.
Lobbying controversy centred on PM Christopher Luxon’s office stinks to high heaven – Audrey Young
New Zealand· 2026-05-28
Willow-Jean Prime switched from the general seat of Northland to the Māori seat of Te Tai Tokerau.
What’s behind Peeni Henare’s decision to quit, and the Government’s plan to welcome a very powerful visitor – Thomas CoughlanNew Zealand· 2026-02-07
Labour’s Willow Jean Prime attended the dinner as a trustee of the Waitangi National Trust.
How women are leading the push to grow the $126b Maori economy – Fran O’SullivanNew Zealand· 2026-02-06
Willow-Jean Prime is the education spokesperson for the Labour party who shares concerns about Stanford's reforms.
As Erica Stanford defends her rapid reforms in our schools, critics say they’re too experimental. Who’s right?New Zealand· 2026-01-25
Willow-Jean Prime said the main issue was that the Government should be strengthening the state system 'as opposed to privatising education'.
David Seymour admits charter school conversions tougher than expectedNew Zealand· 2026-01-13
Willow-Jean Prime has been reluctant to provide a position on the Government’s proposal regarding the NCEA qualification.
Government delays final Cabinet decision on whether to abolish NCEA as officials scrutinise 11,000 submissionsNew Zealand· 2025-12-11
Labour’s education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said it was important for any public service agency to have a permanent leader at the helm for stability.
One year on, Ministry of Education yet to fill top role permanentlyNew Zealand· 2025-10-31
Willow-Jean Prime, in charge of education and children, scored just 1.53/5.
Hipkins rated 2/5 by CEOs in Mood of the Boardroom surveyNew Zealand· 2025-09-23
Willow-Jean Prime, the current education spokeswoman, didn’t respond to NCEA meeting offers.
NCEA’s demise is a lesson in failed educational policy – Richard PrebbleNew Zealand· 2025-08-13
Willow-Jean Prime is a Labour MP who raised concerns about fight clubs and meth use in youth justice facilities.
Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime’s claims of fight clubs, meth in youth justice facilities not substantiated by officialsNew Zealand· 2025-08-12
Prime acknowledged she could have responded to Stanford earlier regarding NCEA changes.
NCEA changes: Labour’s Chris Hipkins told Willow-Jean Prime she should have responded to briefing offersNew Zealand· 2025-08-08
Willow-Jean Prime is involved in discussions regarding NCEA curriculum reform and has faced criticism for her lack of engagement.
NCEA changes: Willow-Jean Prime didn’t respond to NCEA meeting offers, ‘I’d sack her’ - SeymourNew Zealand· 2025-08-07
Labour’s education spokeswoman, Willow-Jean Prime, said 'rushing changes through now for political expediency isn’t the answer'.
Watch live: Education Minister Erica Stanford fronts press conference after mammoth NCEA announcementNew Zealand· 2025-08-05
Labour Party education spokeswoman Willow-Jean Prime said the six-week consultation period was a 'short window'.
Hawke’s Bay school leaders react to NCEA being abolishedNew Zealand· 2025-08-04
Willow-Jean Prime argued that the pilot could not inform legislation enabling future bootcamps until its impact on reoffending could be assessed.
Reoffending won’t be publicised during future bootcamps as officials prepare for ‘MSA 2.0′New Zealand· 2025-07-16
Willow-Jean Prime criticized the school lunch programme, calling the latest incident a 'new low'.
School lunch woes: Dead larva found in West Auckland school mealNew Zealand· 2025-05-26Willow-Jean Prime expressed concerns about the lack of urgency in selecting a new chief executive for Oranga Tamariki.
Hunt for new Oranga Tamariki CEO yet to start seven weeks after resignationNew Zealand· 2025-05-21
Willow-Jean Prime believed it was 'hugely concerning' to see that many complaints in such a short amount of time.
170 formal complaints from schools to Ministry of Education about lunches programme in first monthNew Zealand· 2025-05-20
Willow-Jean Prime slammed the Government for asking teachers to do more 'while picking their pockets'.
Maths: Govt earmarks $100m in funding for underachieving students, ‘intervention’ teachersNew Zealand· 2025-05-12
Willow-Jean Prime said her party was open to a conversation about banning social media for under-16s.
David Seymour denies Act shifting position on social media policy as Christopher Luxon claimsNew Zealand· 2025-05-11
Labour children and education spokeswoman Willow-Jean Prime said her party was 'open to a conversation about banning social media for under-16s and is pleased the Government listened when we said this should be a Government Bill'.
Social media restrictions for under-16s: Work to be part of Government’s agendaNew Zealand· 2025-05-11
Willow-Jean Prime is a Labour MP who expressed concern over the high level of unallocated children.
Oranga Tamariki: No social workers assigned to more than 1000 at-risk children as reports of concern riseNew Zealand· 2025-04-29
The event ended with a discussion panel involving MPs Grant McCallum, Marama Davidson, Willow-Jean Prime, and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
Explosion of culture and aroha at Te Āhuareka o Ngāti Hine FestivalNew Zealand· 2025-03-31
Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime continued her line of questioning by asking Chhour in the House whether her office had directed Oranga Tamariki to withhold the reoffending rate.
Release of review into absconding bootcamp youths more than a month lateNew Zealand· 2025-03-28Willow-Jean Prime is one of the three front-bench Māori MPs in the Labour caucus.
Willie Jackson’s big new job in Labour and his policy mission for the next 18 monthsNew Zealand· 2025-03-23
Willow-Jean Prime takes over the education portfolio as the party looks to a fresh face to combat a competent minister in Erica Stanford.
Opinion: Fresh faces headline Labour reshuffle amid Chris Hipkins’ back to basics State of the NationNew Zealand· 2025-03-07
Willow-Jean Prime had been a vocal member of Labour amid the Government’s approach to youth crime.
Labour reshuffle: Jan Tinetti loses education as Chris Hipkins reveals new economic teamNew Zealand· 2025-03-07Willow-Jean Prime took over the education portfolio from Jan Tinetti.
Labour reshuffle: Jan Tinetti loses education as Chris Hipkins reveals new economic teamNew Zealand· 2025-03-06Willow-Jean Prime questioned Chhour in the House regarding the pilot programme.
Oranga Tamariki stays quiet on bootcamp participant offending as first pilot review dropsNew Zealand· 2025-02-14