Te Kōkiritanga 2023 to 2026

Closed 30 June 2023

NZQA is reviewing Te Kōkiritanga, NZQA's action plan for Ākonga Māori success.

Thank you for providing your feedback.

About Te Kōkiritanga

Nau mai, haere mai

Kōkiri means to advance in unison. We have used the name Te Kōkiritanga to illustrate the collaboration that is required to support the goal of ākonga Māori success. Under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Government and education sector agencies have joint responsibility with whānau, hapū, and iwi to ensure the education system delivers with, and for, Māori. 

NZQA is committed to building a capable workforce that understands and appropriately applies cultural values and practices that underpin Māori worldviews and perspectives. With our responsibility to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this means being sensitive and knowledgeable and embracing Māori approaches and practices in our mahi.

Ākonga Māori have connections to their whānau, hapū and iwi. Therefore, forming partnerships with these wider groups is important when working with ākonga Māori. Enabling Māori education success is influenced by many factors, but at the centre of them all is Whānau.

Māori are primarily a young, vibrant, and growing population. Preparing ākonga Māori for the future world is vital. We want ākonga Māori to be competitive in tomorrow’s job market, therefore it is important we work with employers and industry to understand market trends and needs.

Qualifications and assessments must be designed and delivered in a way that increases equitable levels of participation and educational achievement for ākonga Māori in both compulsory and tertiary education.

Through continuing our work to support the recognition and status of mātauranga Māori, we will ensure our services deliver what’s needed to support ākonga Māori experience education success as Māori.

Te Kōkiritanga vision

The overarching vision of the strategy is:

Ākonga Māori qualifying for the Future World

The two strategic goals that underpin this are:

  • Relevant Qualifications and Credentials
  • Trusted Assessment and Quality Assurance 

This plan builds on the previous Te Kōkiritanga and supports our focus on equity across NZQA. By using data, evidence, and insights we have identified three critical areas of focus that will enable NZQA to contribute to ākonga Māori success.

The implementation of Te Kōkiritanga is the responsibility of everyone at NZQA. A Kōkiritanga governance group including Deputy Chief Executives will oversee and closely monitor the implementation with regular progress reporting to the NZQA Board and Ngā Kaitūhono.

NZQA has deliberately focussed on a smaller number of actions that we consider will be most impactful. This doesn’t mean that the actions within Te Kōkiritanga are the only activities being undertaken by NZQA. There are numerous other actions across the organisation that all contribute to our equity goal.

30-year Education Vision

The actions included within Te Kōkiritanga are closely aligned to the 30-year education vision as well as Ka Hikitia and Tau Mai Te Reo. The five objectives for education that underpin the 30-year vision are:

  • Learners at the Centre
  • Barrier-Free Access
  • Quality Teaching and Leadership
  • Future of Learning and Work
  • World-Class Inclusive Public Education

NZQA’s role within this landscape is the quality assurance of qualifications and assessments. 

Equity creates belonging, enhances wellbeing, and leads to success. 

Ki te hoe!!

Contact us

If you have any questions please contact the team at:

Kōkiritanga@nzqa.govt.nz