Balancing the Languages in Māori-Medium Education in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

The chapter describes Māori medium education in New Zealand and in particular the changing role of Māori and English in these programs. The topic is approached through the perceptions and competences of the students. Little has previously been written about the perceptions and aspirations of Maori medium students in these programs. The focal learners are grade 8 students in three different Māori medium schools. The data were gathered by focus group interviews and literacy assessments. The analysis shows that students have positive attitudes towards Māori learning but they mostly use English in their out-of-school activities. Their skills in academic Māori are equally good in all three schools but their academic language skills in English vary across the schools. This chapter thus explores how the grade 8 students perceive their pathways, their languages and their future aspirations, in light of the above.