Lessons for teachers through intergenerational Māori experiences in Aotearoa’s education system

Abstract

The intention of this research is to serve as professional development for myself and fellow teachers who work with tamariki Māori (Māori children) within mainstream education contexts in Aotearoa. This research explores historical factors that have contributed to the academic disparities of Māori including colonisation, the doctrine of discovery and contention over the differing versions of the Treaty of Waitangi. This research then shifts from holding the coloniser at the centre of the narrative to positioning Māori at the centre as exemplary examples of relentless Māori resistance. More contemporary examples of educational policies are then presented and analysed as an attempt to better understand these contexts. What is blatantly clear through the exploration of educational policies throughout Aotearoa’s post-colonial history is the absence of Māori voice. For this reason, the findings of this thesis are centred on the voices of four wāhine Māori (Māori Women), across three generations, and their experiences with different teachers through Aotearoa’s education system. These stories provide invaluable lessons for all educators in Aotearoa.