Aims: 

The main aims of the project were to:

• identify, investigate, analyse and report policies, programmes and practice at institutional level that implement iwi educational aspirations and strategies and government tertiary educational priorities and strategies in terms of Māori
• identify, analyse and describe particular teaching programmes and teaching practices that support effective teaching for Māori and that support meaningful learning by Māori
• investigate, analyse and describe learning strategies used by Māori students (including utilisation of support structures such as site-based marae and kaiāwhina) that lead to meaningful and effective learning
• work collaboratively with participants to co-construct critical accounts of their practices
• develop an interactive research management site to report and further develop findings.

Methodology: 

The project adopted a qualitative methodology that aligned comfortably with Māori cultural perspectives. The research addressed the question: What characterises programmes that have successful learning outcomes for Māori students?

The following methods were used to gather data:

• a literature review
• semi-structured and open-ended interviews with administrative leadership, teaching staff, students, and members of iwi, community groups and wider whanau
• four case studies drawn from both North and South Island institutions, involving a range of programmes.