Stop bagging Maori say Labour’s Maori MPs

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Thu Mar 22 2007 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)

Stop bagging Maori say Labour’s Maori MPs

Thursday, 22 March 2007, 4:32 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party

22 March 2006 News Release

Te Roopu Reipa Maori Caucus is disappointed the Maori Party continues to bag Maori educational performance, saying it is sending the wrong messages to our rangatahi.

“Once again it appears the right hand of the Maori Party doesn't know what the left hand is doing,” says Labour Maori MP and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.

"Last week Hone Harawira told the Maori Affairs select committee he was sick and tired of people ‘talking from a deficit model’' about Maori achievement in education,'' says committee member Mahara Okeroa.

“The doom and gloom pictures of Maori educational achievement painted by Pita Sharples and Te Ururoa Flavell today contradict that and give little encouragement to our tamariki and rangatahi,” says Maori caucus chairman Shane Jones.

"Hone told the select committee that: "if anybody came to my kura and talked like that, I'd drop them,'' Mr Okeroa says.

Labour’s Maori MPs noted this was the same week the Maori Party wanted to show leadership on combating domestic violence, so Hone’s solution to the ‘deficit’ problem was unfortunate.

"Don't be surprised if Tariana has to muzzle him once again, to make him get'n behind,'' the Labour MPs said.

“But we agree with Hone that Maori are fed up with the negative focus. We need to celebrate the positive achievements Maori are making in education and ensure we build on those success stories.

“The latest Census data about Maori, released yesterday, contained a lot of positive news including increases in Maori employment and income levels," Shane Jones said.

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Labour list MP Dover Samuels says the statistics show Maori progress across the board is "unprecedented'', demonstrating the government's policies are working on the ground.

He congratulated those Maori organisations that are working to improve outcomes for Maori.

Parekura Horomia, also Associate Education Minister, said the Census shows a huge increase in the number of Maori with bachelor degrees or higher qualifications and a decrease in the percentage of Maori leaving school without qualifications.

"However the figures, also show, as we've been saying, that there is more work to be done and we're committed to continuing to make that progress.

“That's why the government launched the Te Mana programme last week, which aims to provide students with positive Maori role models to encourage their education achievement.

"I launched the draft document for Te Reo Maori in the New Zealand Curriculum yesterday, which will give further support for children learning Te Reo. There are a number of other programmes underway,'' the Minister says.

Education Ministry officials told the Maori Affairs select committee that there were real success stories for Maori – particularly in some Maori immersion schools – and the challenge was to continue to identify what worked and to encourage other schools to follow the lead.

Mr Jones urged whanau to have a key role in improving the educational opportunities and outcomes for their tamariki. "Come on Maori, we're on the move, let's crank it up!''

KEY FACTS ON MÄORI EDUCATION

- Overall the performance of Mäori in education is improving.
- The figures show that the number of Mäori in general leaving school with little or no formal attainment is going down from 40% in 1996 to 25% in 2005.
- More Mäori are participating in Early Childcare Education, increase to around 90 percent of all Maori four year olds, up from 85 percent in 2000

- More Mäori are obtaining a university entrance qualification
- The number of Maori school leavers with Level 2 NCEA or better has risen from 45 to 47 percent since 2002
- Students in high or total immersion schooling have outperformed their Maori peers in mainstream
- More Mäori moving on to higher-level study at a higher rate than population in general

- In 2006, 275 Maori students were in Doctoral studies compared to less than 100, ten years ago
- According to Census information, in 2001 only 13,350 Maori had a bachelors or higher university degree. By 2006 this had climbed to 23,070 – an increase of 9710 or 73 percent

ENDS

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