June 05, 2024
Budget allows kōhanga building refresh
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Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust co-chair Raniera Proctor says the $12 million in the Budget for property maintenance and upgrades could help the movement with its recruitment problem.
Fewer than 10 percent of whānau Māori enrol their tamariki in Māori language-pre-schools.
Mr Proctor says since an investment of $8.5 million in 2019 to assess the state of kōhanga reo buildings, the trust has embarked on an ambitious building programme.
“Initiatives like this, creating beautiful spaces for our mokopuna, which we have been able to achieve over the last five years but we really want to accelerate that as a part of enticing whānau back to kōhanga reo and the treasures that sit at the doorway for kōhanga reo for whānau,” he says.
Mr Proctor says the extra $12 million will increase the trust’s property budget to $33 million over the next four years and fund 55 projects.