Te Pāti Māori Proposes Māori Education Authority to Empower Tamariki for 2026 Election

On Monday, 3 August 2026, Te Pāti Māori unveiled its flagship education policy ahead of the 2026 General Election, centering on the establishment of a dedicated Māori Education Authority. The policy aims to restore Māori leadership over education and create a system that reflects the specific aspirations, language, and identities of tamariki Māori. The announcement was made by Te Tai Tonga candidate Lisa Marie Murch during a debate on Marae, where she positioned education as a top priority for the party. According to the proposal, the new authority would oversee a stronger Māori-led system with increased investment into kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura, and wānanga. Candidate Lisa Marie Murch noted that the plan is designed to ensure every Māori child can succeed academically without compromising their identity. She stated that strengthening Māori governance will allow tamariki to flourish while remaining grounded in their language, culture, and whakapapa. Co-leader Rawiri Waititi commented that the current national education system reflects historical assimilation rather than Māori worldviews. He argued that a Māori Education Authority would return decision-making to communities and value mātauranga Māori alongside mainstream learning. Fellow co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer described the move as an expression of tino rangatiratanga, emphasizing that Māori leadership is necessary to achieve equitable outcomes for learners and kaiako. Beyond governance, the policy includes several commitments to improve student wellbeing. These include expanding school lunch programmes, providing free public transport for all students, and offering access to free school counselling. Additionally, the party proposes making te reo Māori a core curriculum subject through Year 10. Te Pāti Māori maintains that these measures will remove systemic barriers and strengthen language revitalisation for future generations.