The Education Minister's standing by her decision to miss the PPTA's annual conference in Christchurch

Erica Stanford had been scheduled to speak to the secondary teachers union yesterday for months, but abruptly cancelled due to an 'unavoidable clash.'

She says it was because the Prime Minister's office gave her a date for yesterday's skilled workers' announcement in Auckland.

She says authorities also advised her it wasn't the best time to give a speech, due to the ongoing pay bargaining.

Stanford adds she is frequently meeting with the PPTA, and this is the first conference she's had to miss.