HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? Researcher Stuart Middleton provides a compelling argument for why educational success for Mäori and Pacific students is critically connected to the educational success for all New Zealand students: The proportion of students coming from backgrounds that lead to high achievement is shrinking while the number of students coming from backgrounds classed as lowdecile continues to grow. If New Zealand does not address the achievement of those at the bottom of the pile, its international standing will not survive at a high level ... New Zealand won’t have a successful education system until it is successful for Mäori and Pasifika learners.142 31