"We know what you need …" and other misconceptions about Maori learners.

Abstract

This paper challenges some of the ill-informed and misleading assumptions made about Maori students and their whanau, and about Maori teachers and education professionals, in particular it examines four prominent assumptions that impact on Maori namely: We are all New Zealanders: We know all about Maori students and praise: We know what whanau needs are, and how to meet them; and we know what an effective partnership with Maori looks like
Ii is argued that non-Maori need to invest more time and energy into gaining an understanding of the worldviews and lived experiences of their Maori colleague students and
whanau they work with They also need to better understand how taken-for-granted Western European worldviews impact upon Maori. Deeper understanding of both issues will enable
non-Maori to build close personal as well as professional relationships with Maori, and so avoid forming and acting upon untested assumptions about Msoni needs and how they should be met.