Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says he’s disappointed at Labour’s continuing opposition to charter schools.
The Maori Party has pledged to vote with ACT and National against a member’s bill that would end the experiment of publicly-funded private schools.
Mr Flavell says the education system is based on a one size fits all approach, and Maori want something different for their tamariki.
"I can’t understand why parties don't want the opportunity to be opened up to allow those who might think about for example a military academy or run as kura-a-iwi are, based on an iwi kaupapa. These are no different and they should be given every opportunity to flourish. Why? Because actually they are doing far better than state schools," he says.
Labour’s Maori affairs spokesperson, Kelvin Davis, says there is ample flexibility in the Education Act for special character schools, but Maori in particular are being pushed towards charter schools or kura hourua if they want to try something different for their tamariki.
