According to a report by RNZ, Education Minister Erica Stanford was a notable absentee at the Post-Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) annual conference in Christchurch on Tuesday, where she had been scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Her absence drew criticism from union leaders, who said the explanation provided by her office did not stand up to scrutiny. Abercrombie argued that previous education ministers, from both Labour and National, had attended conferences during tense negotiations, calling Stanford’s absence “hugely disappointing and very poor form.”The conference spotlighted deep tensions between teachers and the government. Auckland art teacher Paul Stevens cautioned that ignoring teachers’ concerns risked triggering broader industrial action. Teachers, he said, felt undervalued: “They’re asking us to do more for less.”