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Maori Educational Achievement

The paramount objective of the board in governing the school is to ensure that every student is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement. This includes Māori educational achievement, which is supported by specific requirements under the Education and Training Act 2020 (s 127).

Board responsibilities

To ensure that every student is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement, the board must meet a number of supporting objectives, including:

• seeking to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students
• ensuring we take all reasonable steps to provide for students to be taught and to learn in te reo Māori when requested by their parents or immediate caregivers
• taking reasonable steps to ensure that the policies and practices for the school reflect New Zealand's cultural diversity
• ensuring that the school gives effect to relevant student rights set out in the Education and Training Act 2020, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the Human Rights Act 1993

  Student rights within the Education and Training Act include:

  • the right to a physically and emotionally safe place (s 127)
  • the right to education (s 33)
  • the right to an education that meets the specific aims set out in s 5.4.

  The Bill of Rights Act includes a range of human rights that apply to students and confirms most of the rights of section 127 of the Education and Training Act, and others, including:

  • the right not to be subjected to cruel, degrading, or disproportionately severe treatment or punishment (s 9)
  • freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, and freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form (s 13, 14)
  • the right to manifest that person's religion or belief in worship (s 15)
  • freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association (s 16, 17)
  • the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure, whether of the person, property, or correspondence or otherwise (s 21) – giving rise to s 105-114 of the Education and Training Act
  • the right to the observance of the principles of natural justice (s 27)
  • freedom from discrimination on the grounds of discrimination in the Human Rights Act 1993 (s 19).

  The Human Rights Act protects people from discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, religious or ethical belief, colour, race, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, and sexual orientation (s 21.1).

  These rights are particularly relevant if addressing a behavioural matter or if the school is considering a stand-down, suspension, or exclusion.

• taking all reasonable steps to eliminate racism, stigma, bullying, and any other forms of discrimination within the school
• ensuring the school is inclusive of, and caters for, students with differing needs.

The Education (School Planning and Reporting) Regulations 2023 also require the strategic plan of a school board to include:

• strategic goals, as developed in consultation with the school community (including the Māori community associated with the school)

  The Education and Training Act 2020 (s 10) defines the school community as:

  • the parents, families, and whānau of the school's students
  • the Māori community associated with the school
  • any other person, or group of persons, who the board or a sponsor considers is part of the school community for the purposes of the relevant provision.
• information relating to the link between the strategic goals and any relevant national education strategies or plans, including Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia | The Māori Education Strategy
• strategies for achieving or making progress towards its strategic goals based on the identities, needs, and aspirations of its school community, including, without limitation, strategies for identifying and catering to students whose needs have not yet been well met (which may include Māori students).

  The Education (School Planning and Reporting) Regulations 2023 define students whose needs have not yet been well met as including, without limitation, the following students:

  (a) Māori students:

  (b) Pacific students:

  (c) disabled students:

  (d) students with learning support needs, including gifted and talented students:

  (e) students who are, or are at risk of, not progressing towards or achieving against curriculum expectations:

  (f) students in respect of whom a care or protection order has been made under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989:

  (g) students in the youth justice system.

  School boards must address the needs of students whose needs have not yet been well met in their strategic plans, annual implementation plans, and annual reports.

See Board Responsibilities and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Strategic actions for Māori achievement

We seek to empower our Māori students to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement by:

• engaging and consulting with the Māori community associated with the school
• developing and implementing a strategic plan that:
  • reflects the identities, needs, and aspirations of our Māori community
  • outlines our strategies towards achieving equitable outcomes for Māori students
  • addresses how we support any students whose needs have not yet been well met
• supporting Māori students to achieve educational success as Māori, in alignment with the guidance of Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia | The Māori Education Strategy
• supporting staff to develop their teaching capabilities, knowledge, and skills to meet the needs of our Māori students (e.g. professional development)
• engaging with students and their whānau to identify and reduce barriers that may prevent access, participation, and engagement in school programmes
• working with other agencies in support of our strategic goals, including the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, and Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
• regularly reviewing and reporting on our progress towards our strategic goals.

Related policies

• Board Responsibilities
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• School Planning and Reporting
• Inclusive School Culture
• Learning Support
• Professional Development
• Supporting Student Wellbeing

Legislation

• Education and Training Act 2020
• Education (School Planning and Reporting) Regulations 2023

Resources

• Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga:
  • The school planning and reporting framework
  • Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia | The Māori Education Strategy
• Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand: Tātaiako: for teachers of Māori learners
• Inclusive Education: Supporting ākonga Māori

Release history: Term 4 2025, Term 1 2024, Term 1 2022, Term 4 2020

Keywords: Maori

Topic Number: 13408	Last Modified Date: 28/01/2026 14:29:04
Topic Version: 4	Published Date: 30/01/2026