Kura Kaupapa Māori

Kura Kaupapa Māori are Māori-language immersion schools (kura) where the philosophy and practice reflect Māori cultural values with the aim of revitalising Māori language, knowledge and culture. The term Kaupapa Māori is used popularly by Māori to mean any particular plan of action created by Māori to express Māori aspirations, values and principles.

The establishment of Kura Kaupapa Māori schools in New Zealand followed a 1971 report by researcher Richard Benton that the Māori language was in a critical near-death stage. By the 1980s Māori communities "were so concerned with the loss of Māori language, knowledge and culture that they took matters into their own hands and set up their own learning institutions at pre-school, elementary school, secondary school and tertiary levels" (G Smith 2003:6-7)

The establishment of Kohanga Reo, Māori-language pre-schools triggered a series of initiatives in schooling and education by Māori, initially outside of the mainstream education system. The need for Māori language elementary schools arose when parents were concerned that their children who had finished Kohanga Reo quickly lost their language once they started at mainstream elementary schools. Those Kura Kaupapa Māori are part of a series of Māori-led initiatives aimed at strengthening the language, affirming cultural identity, and encouraging community involvement (G Smith 2003:8-11).

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi, Henderson, West Auckland is generally credited as being the first Kura Kaupapa Māori to be established in 1985. The Kura Kaupapa Māori movement is a term commonly used to describe parents and supporters of Kura Kaupapa Māori. The term emerged when the first kura was established.

In 1987 a working party was established to investigate an alternative schooling model that would better meet the aspirations of Māori communities in New Zealand. The working party consisted of Dr Katerina Mataira, Dr Pita Sharples, Dr Graham Smith, Dr Linda Smith, Cathy Dewes, Tuki Nepe, Rahera Shortland, Pem Bird and Toni Waho. The working party adopted Te Aho Matua as being the foundation set of principles that guide the operations of a Kura Kaupapa Māori.

Kura Kaupapa Māori originate from humble beginnings. It took 5 years from the first Kura Kaupapa Māori to be established for the government to begin funding kura kaupapa Māori. In the early years, from 1985 to 1995, almost all Kura Kaupapa Māori were accommodated at some stage in a place or venue that accommodate children for little or no rent. Parents fundraised to resource Kura Kaupapa Māori until the government officially recognised and funded the school. Kura acknowledge two anniversary dates. The date in which the kura first established itself, and the date it became a state school in accordance with the 1989 Education Act.

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