# Question 102: I'm a Māori parent in a working household. I want to compare household costs and local services, and I also care about Te Tiriti and Māori participation in decisions. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties compare on Māori-medium education, te reo Māori and support for children at school? Collected 23 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: c3f5b35e-5cfb-450d-afe8-8b8fa695a86e # New Zealand 2026 election: Māori education, te reo Māori and support for tamariki For a whānau balancing work, household costs and your children's education, there are several distinct questions worth considering when comparing parties: who supports Māori-medium education, how they propose to protect and grow te reo Māori, what help children receive at school, and how Māori whānau and communities participate in decisions. These issues overlap, but a party's position on one does not necessarily tell you its position on the others. It's also useful to distinguish a party's published promises for the 2026 general election from policies it has already implemented or changed while in government. ## 1. How the main parties compare The following comparison draws on published 2026 election policies and party announcements available as of 22 October 2026. It is a comparison of stated positions, not a ranking of parties or a guarantee that proposed policies will be implemented. | | | | --- | --- | | Party | Māori-medium education, te reo and school support | | Te Pāti Māori | Proposes Māori-led education authority and stronger Māori governance, embedding mātauranga Māori in learning, and removing barriers to education and training. Its language policy emphasises normalising te reo and supporting community-led revitalisation. Education proposals also include expanded school lunches, free student public transport and in-school counselling. [Education & Training](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/education_training)[Te Reo Māori](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/te_reo_maori)[Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) | | Green Party | Promises an additional $50 million annually for te reo initiatives: $30 million for teacher reo education and professional development, and $20 million for Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Mātāwai. Supports restoring Te Tiriti commitments in education and expanding free school lunches. [Ake, Ake, Ake: Green Party commits $200m to the future of te reo Māori](https://www.greens.org.nz/ake_ake_ake_green_party_commits_200m_to_the_future_of_te_reo_maori)[Luxon Government can no longer mask racism in education reforms](https://www.greens.org.nz/luxon_government_can_no_longer_mask_racism_in_education_reforms)[Green Party announces plan for free and nutritious school lunches](https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_announces_plan_for_free_and_nutritious_school_lunches) | | Labour Party | Promises to restore the legal commitment to Te Tiriti in the schooling system and work with kura, schools and communities. Its family policies include cheaper uniforms, restoring healthy school lunches from Term 1 2028 and working to restore cancelled rural school bus routes. [Release: Labour will restore Te Tiriti commitment in schools](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-will-restore-te-tiriti-commitment-in-schools/)[Cutting Back-to-School Costs](https://www.labour.org.nz/cutting-back-to-school-costs) | | National Party | Points to investment in Māori-medium curriculum resources, teacher te reo and tikanga training, pāngarau and STEM resources, and a redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Its approach emphasises structured curriculum and learning foundations. [Māori education package and draft curriculum release as school starts](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts)[Budget 2025: Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20250522-honericastanfordboostlearningsupport) | | ACT New Zealand | Emphasises reading, writing, maths, clear standards, transparent reporting and parental choice, including charter schools. Its published education policy also focuses on uniform affordability and rural school transport. These priorities do not, by themselves, establish a detailed commitment to expanding Māori-medium education. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/education)[Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) | | New Zealand First | Its broader approach should be examined against its positions on Te Tiriti, curriculum and government responsibilities. The material reviewed here does not establish a sufficiently detailed, directly comparable commitment on Māori-medium expansion or additional te reo funding to state a firm conclusion. [Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/)[Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) | For the parties where a specific promise is documented, the distinction is important: Te Pāti Māori emphasises Māori authority and decision-making; the Greens specify additional te reo funding; Labour has a clear promise to restore the Treaty commitment in schools; National points to existing curriculum and teacher-development investments; and ACT emphasises academic standards and parental choice. These are different policy approaches rather than interchangeable measures of support for Māori learners. ## 2. What the differences mean for your whānau ### Māori-medium education and kura If you want your tamariki to learn through te reo Māori in kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura or other Māori-medium settings, look beyond general statements about valuing Māori culture. - Te Pāti Māori: its proposal for Māori-led education authority and Māori governance is directly relevant if you want Māori to have greater control over education priorities and decisions. [Education & Training](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/education_training)[Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) - National: points to concrete investments in Māori-medium curriculum resources, teacher development, pāngarau, STEM and school property. These are existing government initiatives, rather than all being new election promises. [Māori education package and draft curriculum release as school starts](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts)[Budget 2025: Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20250522-honericastanfordboostlearningsupport) - Greens and Labour: their published commitments on te reo, Te Tiriti and school-community partnerships are relevant to the wider environment in which Māori-medium education operates. Check their detailed funding and implementation plans for kura specifically. [Ake, Ake, Ake: Green Party commits $200m to the future of te reo Māori](https://www.greens.org.nz/ake_ake_ake_green_party_commits_200m_to_the_future_of_te_reo_maori)[Release: Labour will restore Te Tiriti commitment in schools](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-will-restore-te-tiriti-commitment-in-schools/) A key question for any party is whether it will fund enough kaiako, learning resources, specialist support and suitable kura buildings to meet demand. A policy can support Māori-medium education in principle without guaranteeing a place in your preferred kura. ### Te reo Māori in classrooms and everyday life There is a difference between giving all students some exposure to te reo and enabling tamariki to become highly proficient speakers. ![Tau 2 – Te Marautanga o Aotearoa - Ministry of Education](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/pKrTJv2wC4_lw-kgpOOQKEKwKMDXHfTwnIAKUPGtB9gsPHo-FDXKg15v2jpr6taVT8QmKSKZnFWU1h8VWFJ_gazQHKqXRz3Wjg8pJnM39SWoLBfejN4BFFmadQjORxP_fX4riJpbGraa8RFea793_G3oRbbxQ1LQz-_d74VwNhA?purpose=inline) Greens — a specific additional funding commitment The party proposes an extra $50 million each year for te reo Māori initiatives, split between teacher development and support for national language revitalisation organisations. This is a published funding commitment, not evidence that the additional funding has already been delivered. [Ake, Ake, Ake: Green Party commits $200m to the future of te reo Māori](https://www.greens.org.nz/ake_ake_ake_green_party_commits_200m_to_the_future_of_te_reo_maori)[Ake, Ake, Ake: Green Party commits $200m to the future of te reo Māori](https://www.greens.org.nz/ake_ake_ake_green_party_commits_200m_to_the_future_of_te_reo_maori) ![Maori immersion classroom opens - NZ Herald](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/n9RQTT_fNVUPMUniJflRq8zku1wa5w4QYwHhcGsnezmuZ-K3yQMHbRwBpE-Hz3f3dfdh26wA_y54u7HlF_9Ex55_h2ugOCdQoyhYWxG25VBhA6-6H4dyVaDbpOJiUNLxv-wRJFHHtCbOLsVPTmaxO9dEvAZtEtqqTV-4bwzIPOo?purpose=inline) National — teacher training and curriculum resources The government announced Te Ataarangi training for up to 50,000 teachers, alongside resources for te reo Māori, Te Reo Rangatira and Māori-medium subjects. Ask how the programme will be evaluated and what further investment is planned beyond current initiatives. [Māori education package and draft curriculum release as school starts](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts)[Budget 2025: Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20250522-honericastanfordboostlearningsupport) ![Scotty and Stacey Morrison write te reo language book Maori at Home - NZ Herald](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/EkkviYeM0lTrDbIxt2ArzuKuNswxKCW1YHOHkjkiNyaVw67ZNGAo6VNa1y6ckmsJwLVWh4kX9QXnSNiaDTdlDlg11QXHXqvb3KAyT1Gs9_L4cbSsCs4QoveAahgeulmTzcV_X3ojWPFVrj9E9U-4OjeKNBDh6D14Je_4d0uUFT4?purpose=inline) Te Pāti Māori — language revitalisation and accountability Its published policy commits to supporting community-led language revitalisation, creating more opportunities to use te reo, and holding the state accountable for protecting it. [Te Reo Māori](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/te_reo_maori) The Ministry of Education's [Tau Mai Te Reo strategy](https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/strategies-policies-and-programmes/maori-education-and-language/maori-language-education-strategy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) provides a useful benchmark: learners should be able to access the level of Māori-language education they aspire to, including high proficiency through Māori-medium education. [The Māori Language in Education Strategy](https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/strategies-policies-and-programmes/maori-education-and-language/maori-language-education-strategy) ### Support for children at school — and the cost to parents For a working household, school policy also means the cost of uniforms, kai, transport, learning support and getting help when a child struggles. | Party | Relevant published commitments | | --- | --- | | Labour | Cheaper uniforms, healthy school lunches from Term 1 2028, and efforts to restore cancelled rural school bus routes. Its announced fare cap is scheduled for July 2027. [Cutting Back-to-School Costs](https://www.labour.org.nz/cutting-back-to-school-costs) | | Greens | Restore and permanently fund Ka Ora, Ka Ako, with an expansion to around 400 additional schools and 150,000 more children. [Green Party announces plan for free and nutritious school lunches](https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_announces_plan_for_free_and_nutritious_school_lunches) | | Te Pāti Māori | Expand school lunches, provide free public transport for students and offer in-school counselling. [Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) | | ACT | Limit compulsory branded uniform items and require affordable unbranded alternatives, alongside its emphasis on academic standards and parental choice. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/policies/education)[Education: party comparison 2026](https://partymap.co.nz/compare/education/) | | National | Emphasises foundational learning, structured curriculum and learning support. Its government has also announced investment in learning-support services. [Budget 2025: Largest boost to Learning Support in a generation](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20250522-honericastanfordboostlearningsupport)[Māori education package and draft curriculum release as school starts](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts) | These commitments differ in both scope and timing. For example, a proposed school lunch programme starting in 2028 will not reduce your grocery bill immediately. And free transport, counselling and learning support are different kinds of assistance, even though each can help children participate in school. For a fair comparison, check the eligibility rules, the start date, the funding available per child and whether the policy applies to all schools or only particular groups. ## 3. Te Tiriti and Māori participation in decisions This is another important distinction: a party may support te reo Māori while taking a different position on whether Te Tiriti should create a specific legal obligation for schools or give Māori greater decision-making authority. - Labour has promised to restore the legal commitment to Te Tiriti in the schooling system and work with schools, kura and communities to put that commitment into practice. [Release: Labour will restore Te Tiriti commitment in schools](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-will-restore-te-tiriti-commitment-in-schools/) - Greens have called for Te Tiriti to be reinstated in the education framework and for genuine engagement with tangata whenua on curriculum changes. [Luxon Government can no longer mask racism in education reforms](https://www.greens.org.nz/luxon_government_can_no_longer_mask_racism_in_education_reforms) - Te Pāti Māori explicitly proposes Māori-led education solutions and stronger Māori governance and decision-making. [Education & Training](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/education_training) - National points to its Māori Education Action Plan, curriculum development and consultation and resource work. It is worth examining these alongside the legal changes to the education framework made by the current government. [Māori education package and draft curriculum release as school starts](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts)[Luxon Government can no longer mask racism in education reforms](https://www.greens.org.nz/luxon_government_can_no_longer_mask_racism_in_education_reforms) For context, the Greens' criticism of the government's education changes is the party's stated position. To assess the underlying dispute, read the relevant legislation and Waitangi Tribunal findings as well as the parties' explanations. ## 4. A practical checklist for comparing the parties You can use these questions when reading a manifesto or asking candidates about their plans. ## Your education policy checklist 0 of 6 Māori-medium educationWill the party expand access to kura kaupapa Māori and wharekura, and how will it fund kaiako, buildings and learning resources? Te reo MāoriWhat additional funding is committed, for how long, and how will progress in language proficiency be measured? Tamariki wellbeingWhat will it do about school lunches, uniforms, transport, attendance, counselling and learning support? Te TiritiWill it restore or retain explicit Treaty obligations in education law and curriculum? Māori decision-makingWhat formal role will iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori education leaders have in setting priorities and holding the system accountable? Household affordabilityWhen do benefits begin, who qualifies, and how much would your household actually save? Copy checklist ## 5. Where to verify the policies before voting These resources let you check the original commitments and any updates made during the campaign: - [Policy.nz — 2026 education and Te Ao Māori comparison](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/education?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — compare the published positions across parties. - [Te Pāti Māori — Education and Training](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/education_training?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — its proposals for Māori-led education and governance. - [Green Party — 2026 manifesto](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — education, Te Tiriti and Māori-centred policy. - [Labour — 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — school costs and other household policies. - [National — Māori education package](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260204-maori-education-package-and-draft-curiculum-release-as-school-starts?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — its announced curriculum and teacher-development initiatives. - [Ministry of Education — Tau Mai Te Reo](https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/strategies-policies-and-programmes/maori-education-and-language/maori-language-education-strategy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — the language-education strategy against which proposals can be assessed. One final point: New Zealand's MMP system gives you two votes — a party vote and an electorate vote. You can assess a party's national policy commitments separately from the record and commitments of the candidate in your electorate. The central questions are what you want for your tamariki, what authority you believe Māori should have over Māori education, and which commitments are specific, funded and deliverable. Comparing those things separately will give you a clearer basis for making your own decision. ## Gemini Answer ID: 65cab1fc-71d9-4609-8d55-a4b9310643e3 When weighing your vote in the 2026 general election as a Māori parent balancing household costs, local services, and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the political landscape reveals clear philosophical divides. Parties approach Māori-medium education, te reo Māori, and student support through very different lenses—ranging from community-led self-determination and public investment to choice-driven and streamlined state models. --- ### 1. Māori-Medium Education and Te Reo Māori * **Te Pāti Māori:** * *Stance & Policies:* Strongly champions *tino rangatiratanga* (Māori self-determination) in education. They propose establishing an independent **Māori Education Authority** to shift decision-making power and governance directly to Māori. * *Curriculum:* Advocates for making te reo Māori a core subject up to Year 10 and deeply embedding *mātauranga Māori* (Māori knowledge systems) across the core curriculum. * **Green Party:** * *Stance & Policies:* Aligns closely with kaupapa Māori aspirations, supporting the establishment of a Māori Education Authority and long-term funding security for Māori-medium and kaupapa Māori providers. They emphasize embedding Te Tiriti principles and Aotearoa New Zealand history natively within all learning pathways. * **Labour Party:** * *Stance & Policies:* Focuses on state-supported growth of Kura Kaupapa Māori and immersion pathways within the public system. Their approach typically emphasizes resourcing te reo teachers and integrating localized histories and localized Māori language initiatives within mainstream settings, though without a separate independent authority. * **National, ACT, and NZ First (The Coalition Government Parties):** * *Stance & Policies:* Generally emphasize a "mainstream-first" standard or parent-choice models (such as charter/partnership schools backed by ACT and National). While funding for core language provision remains, these parties have collectively scaled back public service requirements regarding Treaty-specific co-governance frameworks and nomenclature across the public sector, arguing for universal public service delivery over race-based or separate administrative structures. --- ### 2. Support for Children at School (Cost-of-Living & Wellbeing) Household costs and direct support for tamariki at school are major flashpoints for the 2026 election, particularly concerning nutrition and in-school services: * **School Lunches (*Ka Ora, Ka Ako*):** * *Labour, Greens, and Te Pāti Māori:* Strongly commit to protecting, fully funding, and expanding the *Ka Ora, Ka Ako* free school lunch programme. They criticize the current government's cost-cutting adjustments and bulk-purchasing shifts, arguing that healthy food is foundational to learning and eases household budgets. * *National-led Government (National/ACT/NZ First):* Defend their restructured version of the lunch programme, which introduced bulk procurement and lower-cost models to curb spending while keeping meals in low-equity schools. They frame this as targeted fiscal responsibility while maintaining a nutrition baseline. * **Additional Student Support (Counselling & Health):** * *Te Pāti Māori and the Greens:* Push for expanded free in-school services, including universal access to mental health counselling, free public transport for students, and broader community-nested health hubs. * *National and ACT:* Focus more heavily on academic metrics, structured literacy, regular attendance tracking, and expanding educational choice (such as charter schools and flexible funding accounts) rather than universal welfare expansions. --- ### Summary for Your Vote * If you prioritize **Māori self-determination, a distinct Māori Education Authority, mandatory te reo pathways, and expanded state-funded welfare (like school lunches and free counselling)**, parties on the left (**Te Pāti Māori, Greens, Labour**) align more closely with those kaupapa. * If you prioritize **parental choice, alternative schooling models like charter schools, streamlined public spending, and universal education delivery** without separate co-governance entities, the governing parties (**National, ACT, NZ First**) represent that direction. *As a working parent deciding your vote, what element of your tamariki's schooling experience—such as daily living costs/lunches versus language and cultural immersion—is the most decisive factor for you?* ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 8adc7018-0748-4541-89d3-62f395802d6d New Zealand political parties offer distinct approaches to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori-medium education, te reo Māori, and student support systems for the 2026 general election: * * **Te Pāti Māori** : Focuses on self-determination (_tino rangatiratanga_) and Te Tiriti-based structures. Their flagship education policy proposes establishing an independent **Māori Education Authority** to return decision-making and leadership over Māori education to Māori. For student support and household cost relief, they advocate making te reo Māori a core curriculum subject through Year 10, expanding school lunches, providing free public transport for students, and introducing free school counselling. * **Labour Party** : Emphasises co-design and partnership with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They have criticised the current government's curriculum changes for lacking consultation with Māori, committing instead to genuine partnership in educational decision-making. Their broader student and family support policies include cutting 10% of eligible student loan balances and investing in Māori-led trades training and provider funds via marae and iwi trusts. * **Green Party** : Focuses on systemic equity, environmental and social justice, and honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi across public services. In education and training, they target cost-of-living and household pressures by abolishing the training wage, implementing a $2,000 equipment grant for course materials, tools, and uniforms, and providing universal payments for students training in essential workforce roles like teaching and nursing. [RNZ] * **National, ACT, and NZ First (The Coalition Government/Right-Leaning Parties)** : Generally favour a more uniform approach to public services and education, seeking to define and limit the scope of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in legislation and public administration. Their education focus has centered on core academic baselines, structured curriculum targets, and classroom management rules (such as ACT's policies on removing disruptive students) rather than separate authorities or expanded identity-based co-governance models. They have also rolled back te reo Māori operational references across certain public sector agencies. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: eeb4801b-7b7d-4031-960d-6bb22bb8af51 As you consider your vote for the **7 November 2026 New Zealand general election** , parties are offering vastly different visions for education. For a working Māori household focused on te reo, immersion schooling, child support, and Te Tiriti compliance, the platforms split cleanly between the left/pro-Māori bloc (which emphasizes tino rangatiratanga, equity, and expansion) and the right-leaning coalition (which emphasizes standardisation, state authority, and devolution via charter schools). Here is how the major parties compare across your key areas: 1\. Māori-Medium Education & Te Reo Māori The survival, funding, and prominence of kura kaupapa and te reo Māori are major battlegrounds in the 2026 campaign. * **Te Pāti Māori:** Promises to establish an independent **Māori Education Authority** to give Māori complete governance over Māori education. They also propose making te reo Māori a **core compulsory curriculum subject** through to Year 10. For early childhood, they pledge a dedicated Te Kōhanga Reo Act alongside a **$70 million investment** for building and refurbishing kōhanga facilities. * **Green Party:** Strongly opposes recent curriculum overhauls, the removal of Te Tiriti clauses from the Education Act, and the defunding of initiatives like _Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori_. They promise to **reinstate Te Tiriti** as central to the Education and Training Act and push for universal access to te reo Māori in schools. * **Labour:** Supports the ongoing integration of te reo Māori but proposes a **pause on the current government's curriculum overhauls** to allow stability. They focus on funding Māori-led trade and vocational training ($21 million a year) through iwi and marae trusts rather than a total structural separation of the school system. * **National:** Focuses on a highly unified state curriculum. While previously supporting Māori service providers, their recent focus has been on removing bilingual requirements in certain school reading materials and implementing strict cell phone bans and structured literacy. * **ACT:** Opposes any form of compulsory te reo Māori, calling it "social engineering". They prefer a decentralized model where parents are given **Student Education Accounts** (~$12,000/year) to spend at any school of their choice, including private or charter options. 2\. Support for Children at School (Resourcing & Welfare) For working households balancing costs, school-based support services like food, transport, and learning needs are critical. Party| School Lunches & Costs| Learning & Disability Support| Classroom Environment ---|---|---|--- **Te Pāti Māori**| **Expand school lunches** ; free public transport for all students.| Establish a **Māori-led taskforce** to transform disability/neurodivergence support and address systemic exclusion.| Focus on free school counselling and increasing student support kaimahi. **Green Party**| Support universal free school lunches and capped/free early childhood care.| Protect equity-based school resourcing and student welfare funding.| Focuses heavily on teacher pay and expanding school staffing levels. **Labour**| Protects school lunches; introduces a **$20 weekly public transport cap** helpful for working families.| Pledges to progress the findings of the **Highest Needs Review** for disabled students.| Opposes giving teachers expanded powers to use physical force on students. **National**| Maintains a redesigned, fiscally capped version of the school lunch programme.| Delivering **142 new specialist classrooms** and 3 new specialist schools for high-needs students.| Focus on "back to basics" learning metrics, strict device limits, and attendance tracking. **ACT**| Supports tightening school lunch criteria to reduce government spending.| Believes **Charter Schools** provide the flexibility needed to support children who fail in mainstream systems.| Wants to give teachers clear **legal powers to remove disruptive students** from classrooms. Summary for Your Vote * If your priority is **Māori self-determination (tino rangatiratanga)** , systemic equity, and structural funding locked into te reo and kura kaupapa, **Te Pāti Māori** and the **Greens** offer the most aligned platforms. * If you prefer **welfare protections, cost-of-living relief** (like transport caps), and state-funded targeted equity within the existing system, **Labour** focuses on these mechanisms. * If you believe the education system needs **strict standardisation, better foundational metrics** , and parental choice via alternative school structures (charter schools) over cultural/Treaty-centric frameworks, **National** and **ACT** represent that shift. To help narrow down your choice, would you like to look closer at how these parties plan to address **household living costs** or their specific stances on **Waitangi Tribunal protections**?