Pouārahi: Supporting Ākonga Māori in Writing

Waiho mā ngā pouārahi, e tuitui i ngā pūrākau o te whare whakairo

Let the pouārahi weave together the stories of the carved meeting house

What helps ākonga Māori thrive as writers?

A new report, Pouārahi: Te tautoko i ngā ākonga Māori – Tuhituhi | Supporting ākonga Māori in writing, shines a light on the practices making a difference in schools across Aotearoa.

Drawing on the experiences of schools where Māori learners are achieving strongly in writing, the research team explored what is working in classrooms and kura. Interviews with teachers and school leaders revealed consistent approaches that build confidence, clarity, and mana in student writing.

Six Pou for Writing Success

The analysis identified six interconnected pou – the pillars that hold up writing success:

• Pou tuakiri – anchoring writing in identity, whakapapa, and culture
• Pou whanaungatanga – building strong, trust-based relationships
• Pou ako – teaching with clarity, structure, and high expectations
• Pou aromatawai – guiding growth with feedback and reflection
• Pou reo ā-ākonga – empowering student voice and choice
• Pou tikanga ako – sustaining success through leadership and systems

Each pou is illustrated in the report with classroom examples, showing how strategies can be adapted in different contexts.

Voices from the study

“This mahi is vital to understand the conditions required for ākonga Māori to be strong, confident writers. There is a clear need to explore culturally relevant ways of addressing the inequities that exist in our education system, and this report has shone a light on how we can learn from kura who are empowering our tamariki,” says Kaihautū Māori, Mereana Pawa.

Jenny Ward, Project Lead, adds: “We are deeply grateful to the schools that shared their practice – their insights are helping us see clearly how to move forward together.”

Why this matters

The report is both practical and aspirational.

It provides inspiration for kaiako and tumuaki, while affirming the importance of culturally grounded approaches that benefit all learners.