Meeting the needs of Mâori in tertiary education

Budget 2003: Meeting the needs of Mâori in tertiary education

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association (ATSA) believes that an effective way to make sense of this afternoon's budget [as it relates to Mâori tertiary education] is to read it in tandem with the second of the six tertiary education strategies.

For Mâori education, we need to ask: "How does this budget contribute to the achievement of Mâori development aspirations [Te Rautaki Mâtauranga Mâori]."

"Over the past three years, this government has appeared to consult widely with most stakeholders in the sector," ATSA President Julie Pettett stated today. "The acid test for the worth of that consultation was always going to be how the words translated in action."

ATSA believes that Mâori students and their whânau, hapû and iwi, have the right to expect this government to 'walk the talk'. The first steps have been taken, now let's see some real effort to make a difference.

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