The Ministry of Education says it has no formal guidelines around the use of the words "matua" and "whaea" as teaching titles.
But Hastings kaumātua and Mangateretere School chairman Des Ratima says the solution is simple - allow all teachers to use te reo titles if they want to.
Last week two Hawke's Bay-based student teachers alleged they had left Clive School after what they say was an ultimatum by principal Brian Eales - be referred to by schoolkids as Mr and Miss, or leave.
In the literal sense and English translation, matua and whaea mean uncle and aunty.
The two teachers, Rangi Mitchell and Arihi Raiha Hutana, say the title carries greater meaning and is a mark of respect to their culture and world view, and they should be entitled to use it in the classroom.
A Clive School spokeswoman said on Monday the school is continuing to work through "a review process" and wanted to be as "informed and accurate as possible" before commenting.
Ratima, ONZM, said matua and whaea could be used safely by children because they are superior in meaning, connection, inclusiveness.
"When compared with Mr and Mrs, they are a humble and respectful identification," he said.
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Ministry deputy secretary sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said it expected schools to take a commonsense approach and "make decisions on matters, including the use of matua and whaea, in consultation with their teaching staff and their communities."
She said MOE does not provide guidelines on the use of titles in schools.
"However, schools are expected to meaningfully incorporate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into their everyday activities and to deliver an education that sustains the identity, language and culture of their learners," Casey said.
Ratima praised Mitchell and Hutana as "courageous" for publicly standing up for their identity and culture.
"I am sure they will be picked up quickly because they have shown integrity and mana," he said.
Ratima said that today's education also needs to include the changes youth are making to language.
"As the evidence of text language, email conversations and even graffiti highlight, our generation must relent and allow our future to build on the blocks of learning," he said.
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Ratima said the literal meaning of the words was never how people should view te reo.
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Advertise with NZME."That's where people get into a bit of a quagmire because the Māori language is never black and white," he said.
In Clive School's 2018 Education Review Office report, the school was told to make improvements to its cultural awareness.
"For sustained improvement and future learner success, priorities for further development are in: staff continuing to increase their knowledge of culturally responsive practices that support students who identify as Māori, to be successful as Māori," the report says.
The report also says the school, which had an ethnic composition of 31 per cent Maori in 2018, had "yet to have all Māori students and boys achieving as well as their peers".
