June 03, 2016
NZCER restructure upsets Maori researchers
Maori education researchers are raising the alarm at what they see as an attempt to whitestream the New Zealand Council of Education Research.
The council is known for its ground-breaking work in the 1970s led by Richard Benton into the state of te reo Maori, and in recent years it has developed a separate unit, Te Wahanga, for kaupapa Maori research.
An advisory group to Te Wahanga, Te Ropu Tikanga Rangahau, says a restructure will disestablish the position of Te Wahanga manager.
Despite NZCER’s stated commitment to being a treaty-based organisation, the restructuring was not discussed with Te Ropu.
Te Ropu believes the changes will reduce the capacity of the centre to promote kaupapa Maori research.
It says replacing the research manager position with a new role of general manager Maori is consistent with the trend of whitestreaming which is reducing the number of hard fought-for kaupapa Maori spaces within Crown and other educational institutions.
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