Summarised by Centrist
Bruce Jepsen, president of Te Akatea, the Māori Principals’ Association, has unleashed a torrent of accusations against the Education Ministry for deciding not to reprint At the Marae, a junior reading book.
The Ministry’s stated reason is that the book contains several Māori words that do not fit well with the sequence children use when learning to read by sounding out words.
Jepsen described the Ministry’s decision as a “blatant attack,” “an act of white supremacy,” “racist,” “dangerous,” “immensely harmful,” and “utterly shameful.” He likened it to oppressive colonial laws aimed at erasing te reo from schools, “dismissal” of Māori culture, and an “assault on our identity.”
Yet, despite having time to speak to media, Jepsen has not formally complained to the Ministry. According to RNZ, he said this is because he’s too tied up with calls from principals who are “outraged and devastated” by the decision.
The Ministry states the book may be difficult for young readers to build the basic literacy skills they need and says the decision followed expert advice to ensure reading materials remain appropriate and effective for early learners.
Notably, the full version with all Māori words intact is still available in a “big book” format for teachers to read aloud to students. The decision affects only the reader version, designed for children to practise reading independently.
Editor’s note: This is another example where RNZ’s coverage gives free rein to this unchecked vitriol without offering any official response or alternative viewpoint.
Allowing such extreme language to dominate without challenge risks inflaming tensions and obscuring the stated educational reasons behind the Ministry’s decision. Balanced reporting would provide critical context and encourage informed discussion rather than emotional outcry.
