Green Party pledges additional $200 million for Māori language programs
The Green Party says it will allocate an extra $200 million to support te reo Māori if it wins the next election.
During the first day of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, the Green Party unveiled a policy to increase investment in te reo Māori by $200 million, contingent on winning office. The package would provide an additional $30 million each year for teacher training and professional development, and allocate $20 million to Te Taura Whiri and Te Mātāwai, the bodies overseeing the language. Co-leader Marama Davidson argued that the government has failed to fund the language adequately and has waged a cultural war against it.
She noted that previous funding for Te Ahu o te Reo was cut in 2024 in favor of maths resources, a decision she said ignored research showing multilingual education benefits overall learning. Davidson said restoring the money would support the long-term benefits of te reo Māori.
Why it matters
Increased funding could strengthen Māori language education and cultural preservation across New Zealand.
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