52381 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

52381 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: What Māori educators and Māori language specialists, if any, did the Ministry of Education consult with on the removal of "At the Marae" from the Ready to Read Phonics Plus series; listed by expert and area of expertise?

Hon Erica Stanford: The report I received on 11 October 2024, titled Kupu Māori in Ready to read Phonics Plus Books, highlighted that: • experts have mixed views about the use of non-English words in English-language phonics-based student reading books • there is limited evidence about the impact of kupu Māori in phonics readers. Some New Zealand experts support the inclusion of kupu Māori from the beginning of the reading sequence while others advise not to use them until after the early phase. The Ministry of Education works with trusted external partners and internal literacy experts to develop the Ready to Read Phonics Plus series. This has included Māori educators and language specialists. While not every decision involves consultation with all experts, I am advised that the overall development process is collaborative and inclusive.