Independent Research Confirms MAC's Transformative Impact on Ākonga Māori
Tēnā koutou e ngā rangatira,
We are delighted to announce the launch of our independent Māori Achievement Collaborative (MAC) research evaluation, undertaken by NZCER researchers Jackson Rowe-Williams and Nicola Bright. You can find a copy of the full research report HERE and below.
As we expected, MAC continues to culturally transform our kura, allowing ākonga Māori to succeed as Māori, through changing the hearts and minds of tumuaki across the motu. We want to congratulate those tumuaki, both past and present, for having the courage to embrace the MAC Kaupapa and make the essential cultural changes in their kura that have resulted in strong, positive educational success for ākonga.
The researchers used evidence from multiple sources, including both quantitative and qualitative data, to give MAC a top rating for contributing to positive outcomes that are sustained and embedded in everyday practice across MAC schools.
The summary of evidence is compelling:
88% of tumuaki report MAC had an impact on their knowledge and understanding of leadership for Māori success
96% report MAC had an impact on normalising te reo me ōna tikanga Māori in their schools
98% report satisfaction with MAC facilitation
79% agree ākonga Māori are enjoying and achieving educational success as Māori, and a similar share report ākonga experiencing the learning gains needed to achieve across the curriculum
Attendance in MAC schools has risen from 54.95% to 65.2% (2024–25) of ākonga Māori attending more than 90% of the time — consistently outperforming the national Māori average of 47.2% to 51.3%
Progress in reading, writing and mathematics for ākonga Māori is reported as meeting or exceeding expectations, with a lift in progress across every subject between 2024 and 2025
These are consistent, triangulated findings drawn from interviews, wānanga, facilitators, principal surveys, and school-reported data across 500-plus schools and more than 156,000 ākonga nationwide.
The MAC's contribution to change in wider school communities, structures and systems was also noted, with the kaupapa now spreading well beyond MAC schools into new schools, organisations, and national and international conversations.
Critically, the evaluation confirms MAC's benefits are not confined to ākonga Māori. The research describes a genuine "ripple effect." As tumuaki grow in cultural confidence, this influences leadership teams, teachers, classrooms, Boards and whānau. Engagement is lifted for all students as relationships strengthen between schools, hapū, iwi and mana whenua.
Recognising its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Crown funded the MAC for over a decade. Funding ceased at the conclusion of 2025, but it is clear from the success of the MAC that this is a kaupapa that cannot be ignored.
We believe the Crown owes it to tumuaki, whānau and ākonga to take note of the research evidence and renew their support for the MAC so that kura and ākonga awaiting access are not excluded.
Meanwhile, Te Arahou o Aotearoa Trust will continue to offer the MAC Kaupapa to schools on a user-pays basis, in the hope that post the general election, we can use this latest critical research to support our arguments for the reinstatement of funding, making the kaupapa once again accessible to all kura.
Naku iti nei,
Leanne Otene
Tumu Whakarae | National Director
Te Arahou o Aotearoa - MAC
