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.