NZQA Māori reference groups

NZQA plans to use Māori reference groups for advice and support as it implements Te Rautaki, NZQA's Māori Strategic Plan. NZQA will hold consultation hui in October.

A new group, made up of five expert members will be known as the Kaitiaki, meaning guardians. Its purpose will be to ensure that NZQA's approach to Māori knowledge aligns with Māori values, is consistent with Māori expectations and is complementary to other validation processes including processes that may be established by Māori.

The Kaitiaki will not be directly concerned with approving qualifications or accrediting providers but will have two main roles, vis:

• to assist NZQA to decide the place of Māori knowledge within its business. Kaitiaki will also advise the nature and level of Māori knowledge best suited for inclusion in qualifications and the best form of delivery.
• to ensure that the tools used by NZQA allow for courses and qualifications based on Māori cultural perspectives to be valued.

The second group, the Māori Partnership Forum, will be an external group and will assist NZQA to:

• identify the need for any additional qualifications that will lead to accelerated Maori economic capability
• consider options for increasing Māori learner completion rates
• develop pathways for progression to additional courses
• recommend options for local qualifications that will advance hapu, iwi and Māori communities.

Te Rautaki public consultation hui will be held in a number of centres during mid-October.

Confirmed dates and venues will be posted on the NZQA website.