TLRI Kaupapa Māori RFP project announced

TLRI has announced funding for a research project based around an innovative kaupapa Māori early childhood centre. The project was successful in the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in 2013. The RFP sought kaupapa Māori research projects designed to support educational outcomes for Māori learners across learning environments.

The project is called Te Kura Mai i Tawhiti: He Tau Kawekaweā: Building the foundation for whanau educational success and wellbeing; a Kaupapa Māori ECE approach.

The principal investigators are Mihi Ratima and Erena Hond-Flavell and the project is in partnership with Te Kōpae Piripono practitioners Aroaro Tamati and Hinerangi Korewha and kaupapa Māori researcher Dr Will Edwards.

The aim of this research is to strengthen and build an evidence base around the effectiveness of the early childhood centre’s whānau development approach to teaching and learning. The approach is aimed at promoting substantial positive outcomes for Māori learners that are sustained throughout their life.  A key focus will be the transformative power of a whānau development approach to early childhood education in overcoming barriers to education and wellbeing for Māori whānau and the associated long-term maintenance and cumulative benefits.