Advice from Maori Experts for Bicultural Early Childhood Education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Whariki, the first bicultural early childhood education curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, gained national and international attention. While there was widespread acceptance of its bicultural intent, Te Whariki was not well understood and implemented as a bicultural curriculum. Early childhood education teachers lacked confidence and struggled to integrate te reo me nga tikanga Maori into their daily practices. This article gives voice to the wisdom of three mature stalwarts of te ao Maori and the unique community-based lens of tangata whenua from five marae across the country. It provides pathways into how te ao Maori can be implemented into daily practices, programmes, and pedagogies of teachers in the early childhood sector. An Indigenous framework was used to explore what needs to happen to have a bicultural early childhood education sector. These included knowing and understanding how whakapapa can be the key to engaging in te ao Maori and matauranga Maori.

Automated summary

Te Whariki is the first bicultural early childhood education curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand, which has gained both national and international attention. However, it has not been well understood and implemented as a bicultural curriculum. The lack of confidence among early childhood education teachers in integrating te reo me nga tikanga Maori into their daily practices is a common challenge.