Te Pāti Māori are appalled by Cabinet's decision to agree to 15 recommendations to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector following the regulatory review by the Ministry of Regulation. We emphasise the need to prioritise tamariki Māori in Early Childhood Education, conducted by education experts- not economists.

“Our mokopuna deserve an education system shaped by their needs - and that must be led by the total immersion Māori education sector,” said Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for education, Tākuta Ferris.

“Research shows that a strong sense of identity is central to the success of tamariki Māori. Instead of defunding key programmes and continuing to allocate just 1% of total education funding to Māori education, the government should be investing in the Māori educational systems that are already delivering for our tamariki.

“A government that develops education policy within David Seymour’s cost-cutting Ministry, shows a clear disregard for the future of our tamariki Māori.”

“There is no table fit to make decisions about the education of mokopuna Māori without Kōhanga Reo and Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori at it,” says Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for total immersion education.

“They are more equipped than any government body to know what our tamariki need - not just in the classroom, but for their future.

“The government must be held to account for its commitment to the recommendations made in Wai 2336. That means creating standalone legislation with policies specifically designed to support Māori education and to give whānau real, meaningful choices,” concluded Maipi-Clarke.

Te Pāti Māori remains resolute in protecting the mana and mauri of Kōhanga Reo by ensuring all policies and regulations uphold and advance its kaupapa as a taonga tuku iho for our babies and mokopuna.

© Scoop Media