Major Te Reo Māori Boost: New Curriculum and Training for 50,000 Teachers

“This is about properly resourcing our bilingual education system and ensuring Māori students can thrive in both English and Māori-medium pathways,” Ms Stanford said.

The Government has unveiled a major expansion of te reo Māori education support, announcing new curriculum resources and a nationwide te reo Māori professional learning programme for 50,000 teachers, as the draft curriculum in te reo Māori is released for Term 1.

Education Minister Erica Stanford made the announcement during visits to schools across Northland, alongside local MP Grant McCullum, highlighting strong Māori-medium and bilingual education in both immersion and mainstream settings.

“This is about properly resourcing our bilingual education system and ensuring Māori students can thrive in both English and Māori-medium pathways,” Ms Stanford said.

Northland Schools Showcase Māori Education in Action

Minister Stanford visited Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe, Kerikeri High School, Oromahoe School, and Blomfield Special School, recognising the work of educators delivering high-quality learning across diverse settings.

Grant McCullum said the visits reflected the strength of Māori education in Northland and the importance of continued investment.

New Te Reo Māori Training for Teachers Nationwide

Central to the announcement is the launch of Te Ataarangi, a new te reo Māori professional learning and development programme, announced alongside iwi leaders and leading Māori language revitalisation expert Dr Ruakere Hond.

Funded through Budget 2025, the optional programme will:

• Be available digitally nationwide

• Support up to 50,000 teachers to build everyday classroom capability in te reo Māori

• Include tutorials, videos and self-paced modules

• Open for registration in Term 1, with learning available from Term 2, 2026

“This programme gives teachers practical tools to confidently use te reo Māori in their classrooms,” Ms Stanford said.

Suite of New Māori Education Resources

The Government also announced a significant package of new and refreshed resources to support Māori-medium learning:

Kia Rangatira Te ReoA refreshed advanced te reo Māori textbook for wharekura and secondary settings, endorsed by original author Tā Tīmoti Kāretu, supporting vocabulary, grammar and comprehension.

Ngā Āhuatanga Reo HandbookA new linguistic handbook for Years 4–8 teachers, providing clearer, structured guidance for explicit te reo Māori instruction. Available from Week 3, Term 1.

Seven New Classroom Texts for Te Reo Rangatira and STEMFrom Week 3, Term 1, wharekura will receive new text sets integrating mātauranga Māori, advanced literacy and STEM learning. Online teaching resources will follow in Term 2.

New Pāngarau (Maths) ResourcesHands-on Pāngarau resources for Years 0–8 are rolling out from Term 1, with further materials coming in Term 2, aligned with the new curriculum and evidence-based learning practices.

Major Curriculum Milestone Reached

The release of the refreshed Te Marautanga o Aotearoa marks a major milestone in curriculum reform, delivering a knowledge-rich, year-by-year curriculum across nine subjects, now open for sector feedback.

“The redesign gives teachers clarity on what to teach and ensures learning is culturally grounded and aligned with the science of learning,” Ms Stanford said.

Ongoing Investment in Māori Education and School Property

The announcements form part of the Government’s Māori Education Action Plan and are supported by Budget 2025 investments.

Ms Stanford also highlighted recent and ongoing school property investments, including:

• A major redevelopment at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna in Wellington

• Follow-up investment at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki in Wellsford

• Delivery of four new classrooms at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe to support roll growth

“I am delighted to announce significant investment to lift achievement for tamariki Māori and support kura to grow and succeed,” Ms Stanford said.