Maori literacy in spotlight for strategy

Leading the consultation process for Te Wahanga of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research is Keith Ikin.

The stakes are high as consultation resumes on a national strategy for Maori adult literacy and numeracy.

"Improved Maori adult literacy and numeracy is critical to the future of New Zealand," project leader Dr Jessica Hutchings said. "Building a national strategy on Maori adult literacy and numeracy is a first. It's really important that as many Maori communities, organisations and individuals as possible have a say on the direction set out in the draft strategy."

National consultation will be under way next week and will culminate in a national hui in Rotorua on Thursday, May 28, where the Minister of Maori Development and Waiariki MP, Te Ururoa Flavell, will give the opening address.

The process is being led by Te Wahanga of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), on behalf of the Tertiary Education Commission.

The draft strategy was shaped during wide consultation earlier in the year and also builds on work done in 2014 by the National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults.

"The stigma and masking of low levels of adult literacy and numeracy must be addressed if New Zealand is to avoid a social and economic disaster within the next 10 years," said former Waiariki Institute of Technology deputy chief executive Keith Ikin, who is leading the consultation process for NZCER.

"As the working population becomes more Maori and Pasifika, the need to ensure Maori have strong levels of literacy and numeracy is even more critical. A failure to significantly improve on the more than 50 per cent of Maori adults who are below the minimum world standards of literacy will have a significant effect on the prosperity and well-being of all New Zealanders."