Co-leaders - Media Header - Maori Party 2014
MEDIA RELEASE
19 May 2016
Māori Party will oppose the abolition of Kura Hourua
The Māori Party will oppose Chris Hipkins’ private members’ bill which seeks to abolish Kura Hourua/Partnership Schools,
when it comes before Parliament this year.
Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says many of the existing Partnership Schools are Māori-led or have a large
proportion of Māori students who achieve more than they would in a state-led school. If Chris Hipkins’ bill called the
Education (Charter Schools Abolition) Amendment Bill were to pass, more than 470 Māori students would be forced to go to
other schools.
“The Kura Hourua are delivering strong NCEA results despite working with students that have been previously underserved
by the state system,” he says.
Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox says, “We agree with whānau, iwi and Māori leaders that the Government should expand
this initiative to allow more Māori students to succeed. We support in particular the importance of high-quality
teaching, high educational achievement and strong supportive partnerships with iwi and communities.”
“Existing Kura Hourua are developing innovative solutions to match local needs, while meeting high standards. The first
independent evaluation of the Kura Hourua policy done by Martin Jenkins shows early evidence that the approach is
working,” she says.
“Māori communities are defining the parameters of what success looks like for their students. Reconnecting Māori
students with an ethos of leadership and pride, demonstrated by their tupuna who served in the 28th Māori Battalion is
one such kaupapa that offers students of Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa opportunities that extend well beyond
the conventional curriculum,” she says.
Mr Flavell says: “We’ve seen the benefits of Kura Hourua and other educational providers that put the needs of Māori
students at the heart of everything that they do.”
“We believe Kura Hourua have an important role in providing alternative choices for students and we look forward to
seeing them grow and flourish,” says Mrs Fox.
ends