General Items:
Salient Māori News Items to 22 August 2025
- Recently there has media coverage about a decision by the Ministry / Minister of Education to remove Māori words from Year One English language decodable readers, with some commentators describing this as “a dangerous move”, “racist” and even “an act of white supremacy”. For its part, the Ministry has said “the decision was guided by phonics sequencing and decoding suitability”; and based on expert advice. In short, the Ministry says the decision was centred on bland technical reasons rather than an attack on Te Reo, or any wider agenda of that nature.
We note also from media reports the Minister (Hon Erica Stanford) also instructed the Ministry to develop a teaching sequence in the English curriculum to help teachers prepare children to read Māori words from their second year at school. Further she also instructed the development of Te Reo decodable readers for tamariki in Māori language immersion settings (to assist with Te Reo reading). As full source materials are not available, we provide no analysis on this matter. Accordingly noting subscribers will form their own views, our general observations are that; (a) there are strong feelings about the status and use of te reo Māori within the education system; and (b) name-calling is not helpful within policy discourse.[i]
“Words are more dangerous than swords and guns. They reach further and hurt deeper” (Luis Marques).
- Earlier this month we discussed the Government’s proposal to charge international tourists a fee to visit certain areas within the conservation estate. We questioned whether Māori interests had been considered, including in relation to Tongariro, and the proposal to charge for access to the Alpine Crossing track.
This week paramount chief of Tūwharetoa, Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII, gave an interview on the topic of Tongariro. He made it clear that, no the Government was not currently working with iwi, despite requests they do so. Moreover, he then advised that because the Crown had not upheld the original intent of the ‘tuku’ of Tongariro, Tūwharetoa was now calling for the return of National Park so that it could be better managed between the parties. This is a significant statement of position from the iwi.
[Refer to Pānui 23/2025 for details on the tuku / original sharing agreement and associated matters. Note also this interview is on ‘The Hui’ (Whakaata Māori), and also available on other media. Further Sir Tumu also discussed personal matters including his declining health, which makes this a very sensitive interview. We acknowledge him for doing so and wish him well. We also acknowledge the skill and professionalism of the journalist, Julian Wilcox, in this matter.]
- The Supreme Court has found parts of riverbeds can be included in Māori customary marine titles, if other legal tests are met. We are reviewing this matter and will provide further comment in a later Pānui.
[i] Perceived Conflict Declaration. The primary author of this Pānui is involved in an education sector working group. However, he has had no involvement in decisions, nor prior knowledge of matters, concerning decodable readers. However, to avoid any possible perception of a conflict of interest, this media article in Pānui was outsourced and authored by another member of our Pānui whānau.
