3562 (2026). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

3562 (2026). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: How, if at all, is the Crown honouring its commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to structured literacy support funding?

Hon Erica Stanford: The Government honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi by focusing on raising achievement and closing the equity gap so that tāmariki Māori can reach their full potential. This commitment is reflected across our six key education priority areas, which are centred on lifting outcomes for all learners and ensuring every young New Zealander receives a high-quality education. Through the Māori Education Action Plan, we are strengthening teaching and learning across both the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, with a clear focus on improving educational achievement. The Ministry of Education has developed three key initiatives for structured pānui, tuhituhi, and kōrero. Hihira Weteoro, Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā, and Hāpai Ākonga together provide the first structured and evidence-based pānui, tuhituhi, and kōrero tools, resources, and supports designed specifically for ākonga learning through te reo Māori. By actively embedding these initiatives and supports within Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, they contribute to the active protection of te reo Māori and support equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori. As part of this work, the Government has recently announced a new te reo Māori professional learning and development (PLD) programme available nationwide to teachers, principals, Limited Authority Teachers (LATS), and support staff delivering both curricula. This targeted and cost-efficient training, Te Kura Raunui, is delivered by Te Ataarangi, a trusted provider with more than 40 years of experience in te reo Māori revitalisation. The programme strengthens educator capability, supports the use of te reo Māori in education settings, and contributes to equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori. The early term 1 to 3 Phonics Checks data shows that in the term 1 20-week Check, 25% of tamariki Māori were at expectations. And in the term 3 20-week Check, having now learnt through the use of structured literacy approaches, the data showed the percentage of tamariki Māori at expectations had increased to 33%. Importantly, the percentage of Māori students needing support at the 20-week Check dropped from 62% in term 1 to 47% in term 3. More tamariki Māori are achieving at early reading using structured literacy approaches.