Māori medium teacher

Māori medium teachers use te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori through kaupapa Māori to lead the spiritual, cultural, mental, relational and physical development of ākonga.

Also known as

Māori immersion school teacher, kura Māori immersion teacher, Māori medium senior teacher

Work environment

  • Usually work regular school hours but may work extra hours
  • Usually work in schools or marae and may travel locally and internationally
  • May do physically and emotionally demanding work
  • Need to be organised, responsible and communicate well

Salary information

MOST COMMON
UPPER
LOWER
$50K-$103K 50000

Typical tasks

  • Teach in te reo Māori and apply tikanga
  • Develop Māori medium curriculum techniques and materials
  • Assess ākonga abilities and interests
  • Plan and develop learning activities and resources
  • Support ākonga development through learning activities
  • Monitor learning activities
  • Record ākonga development and achievements
  • Teach cultural activities following the school's protocol
  • Build and maintain relationships with whānau and community

Outlook

Māori medium education continues to play an important role in supporting te reo Māori revitalisation and Māori learner success. In New Zealand, ongoing efforts to strengthen Māori language learning and expand access to Māori medium education are shaping the sector. Growing recognition of Indigenous languages and knowledge internationally is also contributing to broader interest in culturally responsive education approaches.

What employers and industry want in graduates

  • Strong knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori
  • Ability to engage and motivate learners
  • Clear communication and teaching skills
  • Strong planning and organisational abilities
  • Commitment to inclusive and culturally responsive education
  • Ability to build positive relationships with whānau and communities

Professional registration

Teaching Council of New Zealand Matatū Aotearoa

enquiries@teachingcouncil.nz

04 471 0852

https://teachingcouncil.nz

AUT programmes

The above is a suggestion only and a starting point. You may need to meet other criteria or take additional steps to work in this career.

Content is reviewed by our experts, but information can change over time. Some content is created with AI support.

This data is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahtu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Some of the information has been modified by AUT. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this data.