Guidelines for the teaching and learning of te reo Māori in 90% of primary and secondary schools where English is the main language of instruction are being introduced for the first time.

Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia used Race Relations Day 2007 to co-launch, with Race Relations Conciliator Joris de Bres, draft guidelines for a te reo Māori curriculum.

The draft curriculum guidelines took three years to develop. They were trialled in five regions in 2005, and have been regularly revised following feedback from teachers, teacher education providers, teacher unions and relevant government agencies.

“The new curriculum will help ensure students learning one of New Zealand’s two national languages are now on the same level playing field as those taking other important subjects,” said Mr Horomia.

“Te reo Māori curriculum guidelines have been available for Māori-medium students, those whose first language is te reo, since 1996. However, there have never been reo Māori curriculum guidelines for those taking te reo in other schools.”

Research by Te Puni Kōkiri shows there is an increasingly positive attitude towards te reo Māori among both non-Māori and Māori and that New Zealanders are supportive of Māori being used in public settings.

”We are now in the most reo-friendly environment that we have ever experienced, which means that te reo can flourish even more,” says the Minister.

Mr Horomia is encouraging all schools, students and communities to look at the new draft reo Māori curriculum guidelines. “As an official language of our country, te reo is an important option for all students. In a shrinking global environment, te reo Māori is one of the things that makes New Zealand unique.”

Interested parties have three months to comment on the draft curriculum guidelines and the final version of Te Reo Māori in the New Zealand Curriculum will be released in 2008.