April 20, 2022
Kohanga Reo underperforming
Former New Zealand First minister Shane Jones says there is already an independent Māori education authority – and it’s not doing a good job.
Attempts by Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis to increase the number of taitamariki in Māori medium education has been slowed by the main kaupapa Māori education bodies disengaging from the process and asking the Waitangi Tribunal to recommend a Māori education authority like the one being created for health.
Mr Jones says the Kohanga Reo National Trust has been acting as an independent authority for more than 30 years – but the number of tamariki in kohanga rather than other early childhood settings is dropping.
“I often find that in Māori politics it’s so much sexier to run around setting up new organisations as opposed to digging deep and delving into what can be done to make existing organisations perform more efficiently and effectively and I would definitely start there,” he says.
Shane Jones says the acid should be put on iwi to contribute more to education, rather than spend their treaty settlements on mana-gobbling activities.