Hokia ki tōu maunga : Return to your ancestral mountain

Abstract

Innovative Learning Environments have been introduced into the Aotearoa New Zealand schooling system through directives from the government. The Māori-medium environment are now facing the challenge of the unique environments. Revitalising the Māori language and Māori knowledge is the main aspiration of a Māori-medium environment. An ILE then, from predominantly international research that has been introduced into Māori-medium schooling, is concerning due to the change in pedagogy associated with the move (Bisset, 2014). Through a Kaupapa Māori framework, this research is a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews of three Māori-medium teachers who are successfully using Māori pedagogy within an ILE. The findings suggest that the key principles and dimensions of a successful ILE (OECD, 2017) have a connection with Māori pedagogical practices as discussed by the experienced teachers and research (Pere, 1983, 1994). The transition into an ILE for a Māori-medium teacher can be successful with the use (or continued use) of a Māori pedagogy.