
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Episode 41: Ensuring te reo thrives in kura
This episode continues discussing the challenges of recruiting te reo speaking kaiako, and the ways those challenges have been dealt with in the past, including hiring fluent freezing workers as LATs, along with ways to ensure te reo thrives in your kura.
Mārama’s guests are:
- Robin Fabish, former tumuaki and current Leadership Advisor for the Ministry of Education
- Nori Parata, tumuaki of Kahukuranui and Tolaga Bay Area school
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.
You can learn more by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
Show notes
Episode themes:
- The employment of fluent te reo speakers from all walks of life to teach in schools under the Te Akatura programme, was probably one of the first and earliest recognition of the value of having native te reo speakers being trained to be teachers.
- The importance of training, mentoring and support for these teachers.
- The importance of learning te reo yourself, and of helping your kaiako learn to ensure the language thrives in your kura, and shows your Māori community you are genuinely committed
- Ways to ensure your reo speaking kaiako don’t feel lonely, and that other teachers in your kura who speak another language feel they have a community too.
- Our guests advice on wats to ensure te reo is strong in our schools.
Additional information