Mixed methods study explores effective strategies for integrating te reo Māori in early childhood education, indicating the need for teachers to honor Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
As part of honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, kaiako (teachers) in Aotearoa New Zealand are expected to embed te reo Māori in their teaching practice. Therefore, students in the Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood Education (BTECE) and Master of Teaching Early Childhood Education (MTECE) programmes at Toi Ohomai receive te reo Māori lessons to prepare for this responsibility. To meet Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, kaimahi (staff) must understand strategies for embedding te reo Māori effectively. This study used a mixed methods approach, collecting data through an online survey of BTECE and MTECE students, followed by a focus group using whakawhiti kōrero (exchanging of ideas) to explore students experiences in learning te reo Māori in and outside of the classroom. Findings identified learning waiata, teacher-initiated activities, and interactive tools as effective strategies. Students also requested te ao Māori knowledge during their studies. This research hopes to inform kaimahi teaching strategies in the embedding of te reo Māori to ensure graduating teachers honour Te Tiriti in their practice. Many of these practices may also be of interest to Tertiary Learning Advisors and student support teams as they may help to inform their work with academic staff in co-delivery, or pre-semester workshops related to te reo Māori and tikanga.
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Keepa et al. (2025) studied this question.
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