NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming the wero set out in the Māori Party’s newly-released education policy.
NZEI Te Riu Roa Matua Takawaenga, Laures Park, says the union backs more support and resourcing for kaupapa Māori
education, Māori approaches in mainstream education, and the teaching of Te Reo Māori.
“It’s clear that we need to turn things on their head if we are to fix the institutionally racist system that currently
underserves mokopuna Māori. The policy ideas that the Māori Party has set out appear to go some way to addressing the
issues, and present a clear wero to the status quo.”
“We’ve been advocating for an approach called Mōku te Ao, which is about putting Māori tamariki, whānau and whakaaro first.”
“It’s important we see ambitious ideas from political parties about how we advance both Māori approaches to education
and the teaching of Te Reo Māori, particularly in Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori,” she says.
Ms Park says she’s also pleased to see a commitment to fair pay for Kōhanga Reo kaimahi.
“One of our campaigns, Te Ake Rautangi, is all about fair pay for Kōhanga Reo kaimahi, so we’re pleased to see a commitment from the Māori Party to equitable
pay and recognition of indigenous qualifications.”