Leadership and indigenous education

Professor Mason Durie is the Chair of the Secondary Futures Guardians. He is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) at Massey University and Professor of Māori Research and Development.

In his report, Maori Education 2026, Durie uses some OECD scenarios and considers ways in which these might be adapted and extended to include possibilities for Māori education. He suggests that the evolution of a distinctive New Zealand pedagogy is important for the future of education in this country. Increasingly, he says, “Māori models and frameworks will find a stronger place in both theory and practice” of that development.

The Secondary Futures website features a number of articles from Mason Drurie on that address leadership and indigenous education. In addition to historical overviews Mason also looks towards the future, focusing on educational initiatives for Māori.

Durie looks to a future where the whole New Zealand education system will benefit from indigenous knowledge forming an integrated pedagogy in which indigenous knowledge interfaces with science and conventional educational theory. His view of what will improve teaching and learning (‘inspirational teachers’) connects closely to findings from a number of the Ministry of Education’s best evidence syntheses and other New Zealand research such as Te Kotahitanga.

Another area which needs to build from success in the past is the development of strong Māori leadership. He argues that Māori educational leaders need to acquire specific skills to work across communities and agencies, and contribute to an education system that can transform the lives of Māori individuals and contribute to the realisation of Māori aspirations. This will “demand a more active approach to leadership building so that there is a succession of leaders who are well trained to manage and lead the next phase of Māori educational reform”.

Questions / Things to think about

1. What does the school sector need to undertake and do to grow their knowledge and to bring about positive conditions for the future?
2. What initiatives are happening in your workplace that will build on Maori leadership for the future of Māori and other New Zealanders?
3. In what ways can your school community contribute to identifying, supporting, and sustaining future Māori leaders?