4. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
Has he received any reports on increased participation by Māori and Pasifika in tertiary education?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
Figures provided to me show that Māori participation in degree-level and higher courses has increased by 25 percent since 1999. For Pasifika, it is 56 percent. The number of Pasifika graduating from doctorate-level courses has doubled. The number of Māori obtaining doctorates has increased by over 30 percent.
What reports has he seen on other initiatives to promote Māori and Pasifika participation in tertiary education and training?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have seen a report explaining that “The liberating experience of education led me to develop equity admission programmes at the University of Auckland for Maori and Polynesian students undertaking commerce degrees.” I have also seen a report advising universities that “If you want funding you can’t have racially based systems …”. The second was from Dr Brash; the first was from Dr Mapp.
Hon Tau HenareIn light of his primary answer, why will he force a quota on Te Wānanga o Aotearoa when many other New Zealanders would love to take the opportunity to attend that institution?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The wānanga is dropping that role for, I would have thought, some fairly obvious reasons. It did, of course, take a claim under the Treaty of Waitangi for payment in relation to it being aēMāori institution; it then seems rather strange for it to turn round to being an institution with a majority of non-Māori.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
I rungai te āhua kei te nui akengāMāori e whaianai te mātaurangaingā whare wānanga, ka taea e te Minita te whakamārō mai ingāpainga ka ngahoro mai, ahakoakua iti iho te pūtea A1J1, ka tukuna ki ngāwānangaMāori ko rātoungākaihāpaiingā taura Māori, Pākehā hoki?
[Given the fact that a greater proportion of Māori are undertaking tertiary education than ever before, will the Minister be able to explain the benefits that will accrue to the wānanga despite the reduction of the A1J1 funding from which Māori and Pākehā students have tasted success?]
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
First, I think it is really important that we stop talking about the wānanga as if there were only one. There are two others, which are highly successful and non-controversial. There is one with serious governance and management problems, and also with serious financial control problems. The Government’s intention and determination are to ensure that those issues are settled and that that wānanga is able to set itself on a stable path, delivering courses of quality, in terms of both foundation courses and other courses.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Ā, takumōhio, kāorei te tika te whakautu mai ki takupātai, kai te īnōi atu kia pātaianōi te pātai, kia taea e ia te kōkiri he whakautu ki takupātai.
[Indeed, my understanding is that the response to my question was not right, and I seek that the question be put again so that he can put together a more suitable answer.]
Madam SPEAKER