Kaupapa Māori Education
Whakataukī | Proverb
"Tino rangatiratanga"
Self-determination, sovereignty
Kaupapa Māori Education centers Māori aspirations, self-determination, and cultural knowledge. It is not just about including Māori content, but about grounding education in Māori philosophy and values.
Definition
Education grounded in Māori philosophy, values, and ways of knowing. It centers Māori aspirations, self-determination, and cultural knowledge as the foundation for teaching and learning.
Key Theorists
This concept was developed by:
- Mere Berryman - Kaupapa Māori Education frameworks
- Graham Hingangaroa Smith - Kaupapa Māori theory
- Linda Tuhiwai Smith - Decolonizing Methodologies
Core Principles
Māori have the right to determine their own educational pathways and priorities.
Education must honor and advance Māori cultural knowledge and values.
Teachers and students learn from each other in a reciprocal relationship.
Strong relationships between teachers, students, and whānau are foundational.
Māori ways of knowing are central, not peripheral, to education.
How We Apply This in Te Kete Ako
Kaupapa Māori Education is not just a concept we reference - it is the foundation of our platform. Every resource:
- Centers Māori perspectives and knowledge
- Honors tino rangatiratanga (self-determination)
- Builds on whanaungatanga (relationships)
- Applies ako (reciprocal learning)
- Integrates mātauranga Māori throughout
- Supports decolonizing education
Our platform pushes back against government content that erases Te Reo and Te Ao Māori, ensuring culturally-authentic, responsive pedagogy is the norm, not the exception.
Application Examples
- Māori-medium education settings
- Bilingual education programs
- Culturally-grounded curriculum design
- Whānau engagement in learning
- Māori knowledge systems integrated across subjects
- Student voice and agency in curriculum
Classroom Application
Use Kaupapa Māori principles to evaluate and strengthen your practice. Examine whether your classroom genuinely affirms Māori identity — do Māori students see themselves, their language, and their culture reflected in the learning? Next step: audit one unit of work using the Kaupapa Māori lens and identify one concrete change you can make this term.
- Use te reo Māori naturally and consistently, not just occasionally
- Connect learning to students' whakapapa and community context
- Involve whānau in planning — not just at reporting time
- Examine whose knowledge is privileged in your curriculum materials