NCEA students are set to have more choices in their subjects - including Te Reo Pākehā, the study of English from a Māori perspective.
The government says the changes, announced yesterday will support parity for mātauranga Māori and provide clearer pathways to further education and employment.
Mātauranga Māori literally translated means 'Māori knowledge'. It's a modern term that broadly includes traditions, values, concepts, philosophies and world views.
Principal of Kia Aroha College and Te Akatea (Māori Principals Association) vice-president Haley Milne told Morning Report she's excited about the changes.
"These new curriculum areas are actually sort of about time, lots of them have been working through lots of this Mātauranga Māori focused stuff, and so being it recognised as subjects and learning areas really just validates that knowledge."
She said the subject will look similar to the NCEA English subject, but with some differences.
"It really is just being able to deliver English as a subject for young people who are learning through the medium of Māori language," she said
"It wouldn't be too dissimilar to what's happening in the English curriculum for mainstream students, but it would just allow us a little bit more of an opportunity to really think about the context.
"Potentially, we may not be learning a lot about Shakespeare, but we might be learning a lot about Māori authors who are writing in English, or really unpacking lots of those skills with a little bit more authentic contexts."
Milne said teachers working in Māori areas are used to push back from mainstream New Zealand, but this change won't affect mainstream learners.
"It's about finally creating some pathways for Māori to really make sure that the context and the learning areas that we're doing that are very Māori in their nature are actually validated."
