New Zealand to strengthen education system with help of Maori experts

Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis is hosting an impressive group of 12 Māori experts in Wellington today to help realise the potential for two education initiatives flagged in this year’s Budget.

Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis is hosting an impressive group of 12 Māori experts in Wellington today to help realise the potential for two education initiatives flagged in this year’s Budget.

The group will help the Government develop the parameters for two Māori education initiatives: Te Ahu o te reo Māori and Te Kawa Matakura.

“There’s huge potential for this if we get it right,” Kelvin Davis said.

Te Ahu o te reo Māori will support teachers to deliver te reo in the classroom and is the start of our plan to better integrate te reo across the education system.

“The demand is there. The teaching workforce has a number of teachers who have good capability in te reo and are looking for ways to improve their confidence to use it every day in their classrooms.”

Te Kawa Matakura is a response to calls to pilot a traditional wānanga Māori. The vision is to produce rangatahi conversant in mātauranga Māori in mind, body and wairua.

“This has long been the dream of our elders and Te Kawa Matakura is a first step to its realisation,” Kelvin Davis said.

The think tank is a one-off. Kelvin Davis said the level of expertise available for the workshop was impressive.

“We mustn’t be afraid to ask for help particularly when there’s an unparalleled wealth of knowledge available at our doorstep,” Kelvin Davis said.