E rere ana ngā mihi nui ki a koutou
We are reviewing how tertiary education organisations (TEOs) use Te Hono o Te Kahurangi.
The review focuses on how the approach is operating in practice and how it continues to enable Māori ways of understanding and assuring educational quality.
On this page
What is Te Hono o Te Kahurangi?
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi (THoTK) is NZQA’s kaupapa Māori approach to quality assurance for the non‑university tertiary sector. It recognises Māori ways of knowing, understanding, and being as a legitimate and authoritative basis for evaluative judgement and quality assurance.
Through Te Hono o Te Kahurangi, Māori worldview and relational approaches, are central to how quality is understood and assessed. The framework supports providers to demonstrate educational quality in ways that reflect their kaupapa and their responsibilities to tauira , whānau, hapū, iwi, and hapori Māori. It enables outcomes that are robust and grounded in mātauranga Māori.
Why NZQA is reviewing Te Hono o Te Kahurangi
NZQA is undertaking a review of Te Hono o Te Kahurangi to better understand how Māori ways of understanding and assuring quality are being realised in practice. The review explores how the approach of Te Hono o Te Kahurangi continues to support Māori educational success and how it can be further strengthened.
This work acknowledges that Māori approaches to quality have existed for generations and that Te Hono o Te Kahurangi was developed to bring those approaches into the quality assurance system in a meaningful and enduring way. The review provides an opportunity to reflect on that intent, examine how it has been realised over time, and identify where further improvement is needed.
How this work contributes to Māori educational success
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi enables quality assurance to be undertaken in ways that align with Māori aspirations for education, identity, and collective wellbeing.
The review is not only about systems and methods but is about ensuring that quality assurance continues to contribute positively to Māori learner success through strengthening Māori education provision.
What the review involves
The review of Te Hono o Te Kahurangi is being undertaken in three phases.
Phase one
This phase focuses on building a strong and shared understanding of the framework’s foundations, development, design, and implementation.
This includes interviews with people involved in the development and application of Te Hono o Te Kahurangi, alongside a review of relevant literature and documentation.
This phase may highlight areas for improvement in the framework and/or NZQA’s quality assurance methodology.
Phase two
This phase focuses on updating NZQA’s guidance, tools, and resources.
This includes processes that support approvals and accreditation, monitoring and risk, and those that help NZQA understand systems performance.
Phase three
This phase will test whether a refreshed approach and/or methodology appropriately assures quality through mātauranga Māori in ways that serves Māori worldviews, interests, and aspirations.
Looking ahead
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi remains an important quality assurance pathway within NZQA’s system. This review is an opportunity to confirm what should be retained, to address what can be strengthened, and to ensure the approach continues to evolve with integrity and purpose.
The outcome of the review will help ensure that Te Hono o Te Kahurangi continues to support high-quality tertiary education in Aotearoa New Zealand, culturally grounded evaluation, and positive outcomes for Māori learners now and into the future.
Mauri ora ki a tātou!