Māori language curriculum marks milestone

Human Rights Commission
Media release
19 March, 2009

Māori language curriculum marks education milestone

The launch of the first ever Māori language curriculum for mainstream schools is a major milestone in New Zealand education, says Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.

The curriculum was launched this morning at Taurua marae at Lake Rotoiti, the same marae where the idea of such a curriculum was conceived at a workshop more than twenty five years ago.

The curriculum is the outcome of extensive consultation, development and trialling, and provides an important tool to implement Section 61 of the Education Act, which requires schools to take all reasonable steps to provide te reo Māori me ōna tikanga to students when parents ask for it.

Minster of Education Hon. Anne Tolley said the New Zealand curriculum now acknowledges the grounding principle of the Treaty in our culture and sets a high expectation that schools will work towards students having knowledge of te reo me ōna tikanga.

Mr de Bres said,” The launch of the Māori language curriculum just before Race Relations Day on Saturday is very appropriate. It is a milestone for race relations in general because it will enable all New Zealand children to experience some Māori language from the very beginning of their schooling.”

He said it emphasised the importance of the Māori language to all New Zealanders as a ways of reaching across cultures and affirming a unique New Zealand identity.

“I welcome the Minister’s statement that the Government believes that learning te reo is part of acknowledging the central place of tangata whenua, part of what makes us a New Zealander, part of acknowledging the Treaty, and part of building this country in partnership through shared cultural understanding,”

ENDS

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