46377 (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:	46377 (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_46377_2025
Document guid:	a05b220b-49a8-44d5-b9e8-a60623b38d5f

46377 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister of Education: Was the Māori Education Advisory Group informed of the decision to remove te reo Māori from early reading books; if so, when?

Hon Erica Stanford: Te reo Māori has not been removed from early reading resources - 27 decodable books produced in 2020 have kupu Māori. From 2025, Māori phonics are also embedded in the English curriculum, and Māori-only decodable resources as part of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, are all being rolled out. I have regular discussions with my Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group (Māori Education MAG) about matters of importance relating to Māori education. Given there has not been a decision to remove kupu Māori from reading books, I did not seek, nor was I provided with written advice, from the Māori Education MAG on this matter. This is also my response to written parliamentary question 46385 (2025).