Iwi kids' school progress shown

Education minister Hekia Parata said she released the information so that for the first time iwi, hapu and whanau could clearly see how their children were progressing from early learning to 18 years of age. Photo / Lynda Feringa

Minister reveals Maori education statistics for first time

Education Minister Hekia Parata has released figures for the first time showing iwi by iwi how Maori children do in early childhood education, primary school and NCEA.

They were presented as an education achievement profile of each iwi, from early childhood to school leavers, not in a comparative sense. But with 37 iwi in the data, comparisons can be made.

The figures show children from Bay of Plenty and South Island iwi are performing best across the age groups, but there are other areas of excellence in Wanganui and the Manawatu and in pockets throughout the country.

They also generally show that while not all iwi in the north are performing poorly, areas furthest behind achievement targets are mainly in the north or in Tuhoe country.

Ngati Apa in Wanganui have the best ECE participation rate at 97.9 per cent, virtually at the ministry's goal of 98 per cent by 2016. Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa iwi also have high participation rates.

Ngati Porou on the East Coast have the best record of 18-year-olds leaving school with NCEA level 2, at 73.9 per cent.

Ngai Te Rangi in Bay of Plenty are in the highest three iwi of each of the national standards measures (reading, writing, maths) and in the NCEA measure of 18-year-olds with level 2 or equivalent.

Ngati Ranginui in the Bay of Plenty are in the top four iwi of all of the same measures.

But the data may be incomplete. The only figures for Waikato/King Country were for Ngati Raukawa (Waikato), which did best of all iwi in national standards writing.

The biggest iwi, Ngapuhi, featured in neither the highest nor lowest achievement figures with 87.4 per cent ECE participation, national standards of 71.7 in reading, 64.3 in writing and 69 per cent in maths, and 65.6 per cent in 18 year olds with NCEA level 2.

Ms Parata said she had released the information so that for the first time iwi, hapu and whanau could clearly see how their children were progressing from early learning to 18 years of age.

How they rate

ECE PARTICIPATION RATES - GOAL 98 PER CENT BY 2016

Highest
Ngati Apa 97.9 per cent
Tuwharetoa 97.6
Ngati Awa 97.4

Lowest
Te Aupouri 76.4
Whaingaroa 78.4
Ngati Kuri 79

AT OR ABOVE NATIONAL STANDARDS - GOAL 85 PER CENT BY 2017

READING

Highest
Ngai Tahu 80.9
Rangitane ki Manawatu 80.8
Ngai Te Rangi 80.6

Lowest
Ngati Kahu 63.1
Tuhoe 64.5
Te Aupouri 65.7

WRITING

Highest
Ngati Raukawa 79.4 per cent
Ngati Te Rangi 74.9
Ngati Ranginui 74.9

Lowest
Te Aupouri 50.6 per cent
Ngati Kuri 53.2
Ngati Kahu 57.3

MATHS

Highest
Ngati Te Rangi 77.9 per cent
Ngati Ranginui 77.9
Ngati Te Roro o te Rangi 76.5

Lowest
Tuhoe 60.7 per cent
Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau 62.3
Te Aupouri 62.7

18 YEAR OLDS WITH NCEA LEVEL 2 OR EQIVALENT - GOAL 85 PER CENT BY 2017

Highest
Ngati Porou 73.9 per cent
Ngati Whakaue 73.3
Ngai te Rangi 73.3
Ngati Ranginui 73.3

Lowest
Whaingaroa 52.9
Tuhoe 56.4
Ngati Kahu 59

NOTE: These statistics relate to pupils of any tribal affiliation at schools within a specific tribal area.