Maori veto Pakeha researcher

Maori language early childhood centres have objected to their health and safety being surveyed by a Pakeha, a researcher says.

The Auckland District Health Board, using taxpayer money, has been surveying the health and safety of about 80 early childhood centres in the Auckland region. Maori-based Kohanga Reo were to be involved, but may now be surveyed later.

The $50,000 research project, co-ordinated by Susan Berg, a non-Maori, looks at all aspects of health and safety, including the drinks offered to children, the heights of fences and the space for cots.

In an email obtained by the Act party, she says, "The [Te Kohanga Reo] National Trust has said they do not want a Pakeha to conduct the survey in their centres, but they would like to participate. Every effort is being made to facilitate this."

In a related note, she wrote, "I will not be visiting Te Kohanga Reo during this study (a similar study will be initiated if and when funding is secured)."

A manager at the national trust said it accepted Pakeha conducting health and safety inspections, but it had objected to educational assessments being done by people without experience of the Maori language.

The manager of the board's regional public health service, Monica Briggs, said last night a meeting was being planned with Kohanga Reo representatives to work out how their centres could be involved in a health and safety survey.

She expected the trust would want the person gathering information at Kohanga Reo to be a Maori speaker.

Act MP Deborah Coddington said if somebody in a private early childhood education centre said they didn't want a Maori surveying the centre there would be an outcry.