Each education minister has to relearn a lesson which their predecessors have already learnt the hard way. You can make education policy in offices in the capital, but you cannot implement it without the cooperation of teachers. Therefore in some way, the politicians and the teachers have to establish a working relationship. And it must be said that as a species, teachers tend to be conservative. They are busy, and to them change is disruptive.

After resigned from the old Department of Education, I set up my own education consultancy in 1986. Now such businesses are plentiful, but back then it was a brave step. I also became a regular commentator on education issues in the National Business Review. Late in 1987, I had a call from the Beehive: would I like to come in and talk about working as education aide for Prime Minister David Lange, in his capacity as Minister of Education? I would, and I did. There was a strip search of ideas and prejudices. A few days later, I was invited to meet the Minister and his associate, Phil Goff. They offered me the position.