Engagement, consultation and feedback

Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The Māori Education Strategy 2008 - 2012 is a strategy that sets out specific priorities, outcomes and targets.

The strategy’s launch in April 2008 represents one point an ongoing process of Māori education strategy and policy development – a process that in part involves extensive engagement, consultation and feedback with the public and the education and Māori communities.

On this page is a summary of the past ten years, noting the key dates in the strategy development process. Information on the specific engagement, consultation and feedback process for Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success that took place in 2007 and 2008 is included.

Last decade in Māori education 1998 – 2008

1998

Extensive consultation by the Ministry of Education and Te Puni Kokiri with Māori about developing a Māori Education Strategy.

1999

First Māori Education Strategy published with three main goals:

raise the quality of English-medium education for Māori
support the growth of high-quality kaupapa Māori education
support greater Māori involvement and authority in education

2005

Some significant improvements in education performance for and with Māori, including a range of new initiatives such as research projects and evaluations providing more information on student achievement and the Ministry’s iwi partnerships
The 1999 Māori Education Strategy republished to reaffirm the Ministry’s commitment to Māori education.

2006

First stage in the redevelopment of the Māori Education Strategy, including:

Ka Hikitia: Setting Priorities for Māori Education published as an internal document setting out the proposed Māori education priorities for the next five years
engagement with iwi and key education sector groups
Ka Hikitia: Setting Priorities for Māori Education contributes directly to the Tertiary Education Strategy 2007-12

2007

Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The draft Māori Education Strategy 2008 – 2012 released combining the earlier priorities with goals, actions and targets

August to October

Public consultation on Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The draft Māori Education Strategy 2008 – 2012

2008

Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The Māori Education Strategy 2008 – 2012 released

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Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success

Public engagement, consultation and feedback on Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success took place over August, September and October, 2007. The consultation period ended on October 31 and the final strategy was released on April 15, 2008.

The process involved:

thirteen face to face public hui across the country, attended by over 600 people in total, including young people
bilateral discussions with the Ministry’s iwi and Māori education partners where Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success was discussed
presentations to a number of education groups including the Ngāi Tahu Wanaka Matauraka Summit, the Marlborough Principals’ Association, the Industry Training Federation, Te Akatea Māori Principals Association (Northland Group) and The Correspondence School
discussions with key government departments and agencies
distribution of over 7,300 copies of the strategy document and 4,600 copies of the summary document
articles and features in a number of publications and communications channels, including the Education Gazette, The Batch/Ed Online (monthly communications from the Ministry of Education to all schools), Pitopito Korero, NZEI, PPTA and NZQA newsletters, Kōkiri Paetae (Te Puni Kōkiri) and the Leadspace, Te Kete Ipurangi and Education Counts websites
more than 100 submissions were received
additional meetings with professional leaders and representatives of schools and other educators in Dunedin, Rotorua, Thames, Hamilton, Ruatoria, Christchurch, Blenheim, Nelson, Hokitika, Westport and Invercargill
engagement of leading Māori academics.

Themes

Overall, the feedback received was positive about the direction and content of the draft strategy and a real desire was expressed for it to make the difference that it proposed. Within that support was a clear challenge, not only to the Ministry of Education, but to the wider education agencies, the sector and those involved in education, including leaders, educators, and parents, family, whānau and communities, to collectively ensure that there is a step up in education system performance for, and with, Māori.

The overarching themes that emerged from the feedback, included:

the absolutely fundamental importance of productive relationships for effective teaching and learning that results in achievement for, and with, Māori students
the critical importance and role of parents, family, whānau, hapū and iwi in education
the importance of valuing and prioritising te reo Māori and tikanga Māori for all New Zealanders
strong support for resourcing of the implementation of the strategy and ongoing research and development
scepticism that what is proposed will actually happen.

The Ministry of Education analysed all the feedback and used it to refine and update the final strategy (launched on April 15, 2008).