and tikanga-based statement. While developed
by and for kura kaupapa, the philosophy and
values of the Aho Matua statement assist the
whānau tikanga Māori-based responsibilities and
accountabilities of kōhanga reo.
Puna Kōhungahunga
A puna kōhungahunga is a Māori language play
group that is certified by the Ministry of Education
based on quality early childhood education
programmes for children. While the focus is on
learning te reo and tikanga Māori, learning may
be bilingual or in te reo Māori only. Under Ministry
requirements, a puna kōhungahunga may be
no more than four hours a day from one to five
mornings a week, and they may be located on
marae, with schools and in community buildings.
More than half the children attending must have
a parent or caregiver present (Education and
Training Act 2020). All puna kōhungahunga must
operate in terms of the Act, but funding and
support from the Ministry are only available to
those certified by the Ministry.
Comparison and accountability
While the kōhanga reo movement was initiated
by Māori to conserve the language and has been
the foundation for Māori to advance to higher
learning following a firm grounding on identity
and mana motuhake, funding for kōhanga reo has
been very limited. Accountability is to the National
Te Kōhanga Reo Trust through tikanga Māori,
and although management policy is now under
Ministry of Education oversight, that experience
appears to have met with barriers. In contrast,
the Ministry of Education has appeared to foster
puna kōhungahunga. Accountability is also to
whānau through tikanga Māori. Both initiatives
are intended to support te reo Māori, but the goal
of the dual approach is unclear in terms of tino
rangatiratanga.
“In any endeavour of Māori development, we
come up against the state institutions trying to
close us down or forcing us to become part of
mainstream e.g. Kōhanga Reo (Māori immersion
early childhood learning centre), Kura Kaupapa
Māori (Māori immersion school, generally primary),
Wharekura (Māori immersion school, generally
secondary) …(and) the mainstreaming of Māori
services … The Treaty settlement process set down
by the perpetrators has split whānau, hapū, and all
iwi all over the country.”64
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