Politicians should create a minister of Maori education, a Lower Hutt community leader Neville Baker says.
There was a debate in his circles that a government portfolio should be dedicated to matauranga for tangata whenua, the Waiwhetu Marae head said.
Neville Baker. Photo: RNZ
Associate ministers of education could not make a lot of progress because they did not have the same power as a full minister.
If education was considered important to the development of the country, the position of minister of Maori education should be created, Mr Baker said.
While some great improvements had been made in Maori education, there needed to be a quantum leap in investment, development and control, he said.