46326 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister of Education

Written Question

Published date: 09 Oct 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	46326 (2025)
Question asked:	25 Sep 2025
Member asking:	Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Portfolio:	Minister of Education
Minister replying:	Hon Erica Stanford
Answer received:	05 Oct 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_46326_2025
Document guid:	93c0a1d4-9229-47b9-b5f8-117fe6e33fd3

46326 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister of Education: Which “experts in structured literacy approaches” told her that including two different languages in the books could confuse learners?

Hon Erica Stanford: I was advised on 11 October 2024 in the report Kupu Māori in Ready to Read Phonics Plus Books that in 2021, the Ministry of Education conducted a review report on the first tranche of ready to read phonics plus books. It was advised not to use kupu Māori until the final phase, given the potential for kupu Māori use to be confusing for phonics learners. This is also my response to written parliamentary question 46369 (2025).