Pacific languages in education

On this page

Community voice, research and evidence
Changes we made to the action plan
Policy on Pacific languages in education
Support and resources
Research

Community voice, research and evidence

In the 2020-2030 Action Plan for Pacific Education, we committed to develop a policy on Pacific bilingual and immersion education.

Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020–2030

Throughout 2021 to 2022, we worked with Pacific communities and the education sector to develop a policy to be included in the 2023 refreshed action plan.

What you said

We heard from Pacific communities across the motu about the importance of Pacific languages in education and that we need to show the Ministry’s commitment to Pacific languages more clearly.

Changes we made to the action plan

What we did

We have made 2 changes to the action plan to strengthen the strategic focus on Pacific languages in education.

Refresh of the Action Plan for Pacific Education for 2023

Policy on Pacific languages in education

Where we are going

The new section on Pacific languages in education sets out the Ministry of Education’s policy on Pacific languages in education.

This policy sets the direction for Pacific bilingual and immersion education in the early learning, schooling and tertiary education systems. It embeds a high-quality delivery model to achieve this direction. This includes supporting the growth of bilingual and immersion education settings.

What you can do

The policy statement can be used to work with services, schools and providers to grow and support Pacific language pathways in your community and to understand what actions the Ministry of Education and partner agencies are taking.

Support and resources

Understand learner, family and community needs

Pacific Languages Strategy

Check out community aspirations for Pacific languages in the feedback on the Ministry for Pacific People's Pacific Languages Strategy.

Feedback from the Draft Pacific Languages Strategy Consultation – Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Leo Moana o Aotearoa survey findings

Look at the findings in the Leo Moana o Aotearoa survey.

Leo Moana o Aotearoa: The Pacific Languages of Aotearoa Survey – Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Language community profiles

Read the language community profiles on pages 45-82 in the Pacific Languages Strategy.

The Pacific Languages Strategy 2022-2032 – Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Set up a Pacific bilingual unit in a school

Start a Pacific bilingual programme

Set up a Pacific bilingual unit in your school and start a Pacific bilingual programme.

Operational funding

Check if your school is eligible for operational funding to support your Pacific bilingual unit.

Operational funding

Also see the Pacific Bilingual programme funding factsheet and frequently asked questions.

Professional learning and development

Schools can access specific professional learning and development (PLD) for teachers and leaders in a Pacific bilingual unit outside of regionally allocated PLD.

Va’atele Education Consulting provides Reo Moana o Aotearoa, Pacific Bilingual and Immersion Education PLD.

Va’atele Education Consulting

Regionally-allocated – PLD Education

Pacific bilingual curriculum resources

Use the Pacific bilingual curriculum resources available on Te Kete Ipurangi and from Down the Back of the Chair, including dual language readers.

Pacific languages – Pasifika Education Community

Support Pacific bilingual students’ learning

The Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika (LEAP) resources show how to support Pacific bilingual students’ learning.

Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika (LEAP) – Pasifika Education Community

The Education Review Office's 'Afa Framework to support Pacific Bilingual and Immersion Education (PBIE) in schools' will set out what quality looks like in Pacific bilingual education and helps you plan to develop and deliver your programme.

Email [email protected].

Recognise the cultural and language competencies of your teacher aides and make sure their skills and competencies are recognised in their remuneration.

Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement

Support Pacific bilingual teachers

Access the remuneration allowance for Pacific bilingual and immersion teachers in units from 2024.

Connect with groups

Connect in with key Pacific language, education and community groups and networks in your area.

Networks of expertise

Get support from the Networks of Expertise.

Networks of Expertise – PLD Education

Set up a Pacific language programme in school

Pacific language guidelines

Read the Pacific language guidelines for 6 Pacific languages on Te Kete Ipurangi.

Pacific languages – Pasifika Education Community

Pacific language curriculum resources

Use the Pacific language curriculum resources available on Te Kete Ipurangi and from Down the Back of the Chair, including dual language readers

Pacific languages – Pasifika Education Community

Pacific language NCEA resources

Use the existing Pacific language NCEA resources.

Resources, guidance and tools – NCEA

Support Pacific bilingual students’ learning

The Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika (LEAP) resources show how to support Pacific bilingual students’ learning.

Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika – Pasifika Education Community

Get regionally allocated professional learning and development

When using the facilitator database to look for your professional learning and development (PLD) hours to facilitators, you can identify bilingual education as a priority and look for facilitators with experience in bilingual education and build understanding and developing skills in bilingual education into your PLD plan.

Strengthen teaching practice – PLD Education

Connect with groups

Connect in with key Pacific language, education and community groups and networks in your area.

Networks of expertise

Get support from the Networks of Expertise.

Networks of Expertise – PLD Education

Set up a Pacific bilingual or Pacific language early learning service

Setting up a service

Pacific bilingual and immersion services and Pacific language and/or cultural services are priority services to set up under network management.

A fact sheet is available in 7 different Pacific languages about applying for network approval.

Network management for licensed early childhood services

Use the guidance on setting up a new service to help you learn more about licensing requirements and how to apply to be licensed.

Start a service

Pacific language curriculum resources

Use the Pacific bilingual curriculum resources available on Tāhūrangi, including Pacific dual language books and Talking Together brochures in 10 Pacific languages.

Talking Together: Learning in the home – Tāhūrangi

Pacific dual language books – Tāhūrangi

Design your local curriculum

Tāhūrangi has curriculum design guides in 5 Pacific languages that help you work with your families and communities when decided on what learning matters in your Pacific bilingual and immersion service.

Information about understanding and supporting bilingual and multilingual language pathways is also available on Tāhūrangi.

Pacific learners: Supporting and enhancing success – Tāhūrangi

The Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika (LEAP) resources show how to support Pacific bilingual students’ learning.

Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika – Pasifika Education Community

Access equity funding

Your service may be eligible for equity C funding.

Funding for C: Languages and cultures other than English

Support Pacific bilingual teachers

Access the remuneration allowance for Pacific bilingual and immersion teachers in education and care services from 2024.

Connect with groups

Connect in with key Pacific language, education and community groups and networks in your area, including Sosaiete Aoga Amata Sāmoa I Aotearoa- Sāmoa Aoga Amata (SAASIA) organisation.

Affirming language and culture – SAASIA