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Story: Society

Waiwhetū School bilingual unit

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Waiwhetū School bilingual unit

In the 1980s growing fears that Māori would die out as a living language led to efforts to bring older speakers of te reo (the language) into contact with Māori children. Preschool kōhanga reo (language nests) were set up, followed by Māori language schools – kura kaupapa Māori. These students are studying at a bilingual school near Wellington.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1991/2155/3

by Mark Coote

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Society – Education, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2530/waiwhetu-school-bilingual-unit (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 3 March 2009.