What does Pita Sharples think of National Standards?

So, Radio New Zealand have uncovered emails from Assoc. Minisiter of Education Pita Sharples expressing some fundamental concerns about the National Standards. In response Dr Sharples says that he was concerned but he has now changed his mind. He cites the government's agreement to a trial of the standards in Kura Kaupapa as the reason for his change of heart but he doesn't sound that convincing, and still expresses major concern about the possibility of league tables. NZEI is now challenging Dr Sharples to explain why he is ignoring the 80 percent of Māori children in mainstream schools who will be affected by the government’s untrialled National Standards policy.
National Radio report on Sharples emails (mp3)
Sharples responds on National Radio (mp3)
NZEI media release (pdf)