Partnering with Māori communities

A meaningful connection is the foundation of a strong partnership.

From meaningful connections, we can develop shared understandings and celebrate similarities and differences in a safe and supported way.

Let’s explore how schools and Māori communities can build strong, reciprocal partnerships to improve educational outcomes for all your ākonga and what this might look like for your board.

Why are these partnerships important?

Under Article 1 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, partnership is crucial to kāwanatanga (honourable governance).

Under the Education and Training Act, boards must ensure every student achieves their highest possible standard. To support this objective, boards must deliver equitable outcomes for Māori students, support access to learning in te reo Māori, and reflect New Zealand’s cultural diversity.

But it’s not just about meeting your obligation. Genuine partnerships with your Māori community bring real benefits – stronger relationships, a more inclusive school, and better learning outcomes.

Examples of connections that make a positive difference include ensuring that:

• Your school feels welcoming to your Māori community.
• Māori community members are able to participate in school visioning and strategic planning hui.
• Your policies, procedures, and actions reflect Māori tikanga.
• You participate in events important to your Māori community when invited.

How does your Māori community want to engage with your school?

Has your board asked your local Māori whānau how they want to be involved in your school?

Too often, schools set the terms of engagement without truly listening to the communities they serve. But real partnership means creating space for whānau to shape the relationship in ways that feel meaningful to them.

“If we want to maximise the relationship that schools have with families, then families have to be part of determining that relationship. For too long in education, we, as educators, have tried to define how communities will participate with us.”
         - Dr Mere Berryman.

So where do you start?

Begin by listening. Build trust by making whānau feel valued and heard.

How can you prepare for engagement?

Before reaching out, take some time to learn about local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori.

If this is new to you, that’s okay – think about who in your area could offer guidance or advice. Reading up on local history is a great place to start, too.

Make an effort to get familiar with te reo Māori terms you come across. Be aware that their meanings can change depending on the context, and there isn’t always a direct translation.

Approach your connection with humility and be open to ongoing learning and understanding.

Acknowledge the mana whenua, tino rangatiratanga, and the knowledge and social connections of these Māori communities.

What can your board do to strengthen relationships with your Māori community?

True partnership means sharing power – making sure all parties have a real say in shaping decisions.

Your board could start by reflecting:

• Is this a meaningful, reciprocal relationship?
• How could this be strengthened? 
• What support for your Māori community can be provided in return? 
• How will you show you will be kaitiaki (caretakers) of the knowledge, stories, and history they share with the kura or school?

Here are some steps to consider when engaging with your Māori community.

Introduce yourself – Māori communities want to connect with you on a personal level and learn about your background and family before discovering what you do.

Invest in relationships – Māori networks are often deeply connected, and trust needs to be built over time. It’s about genuine connection and giving before expecting anything in return.

Engaging with local Māori elders (kuia and kaumatua) helps strengthen ties.

Be mindful that their time and resources are precious. Ensure you tautoko (support) their needs appropriately.

For example, consider how you will adequately reimburse them for their time, skill, and travel expenses in your koha.

Think about how your school engages with the Māori community – who holds these relationships, how they’re nurtured, and how both sides benefit.

When working with Māori communities, it’s important to know they have a different approach to boundaries.

When you commit to the project, you commit to the kaupapa (principle), to the people you work with, and you may be contacted outside of standard working hours.

Listen – In the past, non-Māori tended to focus on just listening to the messages that met their own agenda.

Instead, school boards need to listen to all the voices and aspirations of Māori whānau and communities.

Be prepared to follow the tikanga they set.

When you’re a guest of mana whenua, embrace the opportunity to get involved.

Create a partnership that is beneficial for all – Give whānau space to consider whether they want to be involved, rather than just assuming they will.

A strong partnership benefits everyone – not just the school and students, but whānau and the wider community.

You can help make this happen by:

• Creating opportunities for real discussion.
• Providing spaces where whānau feel welcome and valued.
• Ensuring collaboration is built on shared knowledge and respect.

A message that reflects this approach:

“You belong here. We want you here. We have some knowledge; we recognise that you have knowledge too. By working together, we can be much more powerful.”

                           – Kia Eke Panuku

What are the different groups you could connect with?

You are probably familiar with (or may be part of) your local Māori communities, and your school may already be working with them.

These could be whānau (extended family groups), hapū (a larger family group made up of several whānau), and iwi (many hapū linked by ancestry, land, and history).

There might also be other Māori groups in your community, such as:

• Māori urban authorities.
• Māori interest groups (such as kapahaka, sports groups, and language learning cohorts).
• Faith-based groups.

What are some ways you can ensure you are connecting with all the Māori groups in your community?

• Research the groups in your area.
• Seek advice from the whānau of your students.
• Recognise the hapū and iwi collectives who have established relationships.
• There may be existing formal iwi partnerships between clusters of schools and local marae, hapū, and iwi.
• Do they have an existing education strategy for their Tamariki?

Questions your board could ask

• What have we done as a board to build positive relationships and trust with the Māori community?
• What steps have we taken to listen to our community’s needs and aspirations?
• Do we know how whānau want to be engaged, or have we made assumptions about this?
• Have we engaged in whakawhanaungatanga and explored whakapapa linkages?
• How do we acknowledge the tino rangatiratanga of our Māori community?
• Have we provided spaces and ways for whānau and the school to talk and work together?