Former Minister Kelvin Davis Appointed to Māori Education Advisory Group

New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced the appointment of former senior minister and respected Māori leader Kelvin Davis to the Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group, strengthening the government's efforts to improve educational outcomes for Māori learners across the country.

Davis, who is of Ngāpuhi descent, brings decades of experience in education, Māori development, community leadership, and public service to the advisory body, which plays a key role in shaping Māori education policy and supporting equitable outcomes within New Zealand's education system.

The appointment reflects the government's continued focus on addressing educational disparities affecting Māori students while strengthening collaboration with Māori leaders and education experts.

Kelvin Davis Brings Extensive Leadership Experience

Education Minister Erica Stanford described Davis as a strong advocate for education, Māori advancement, and social equity.

She praised his long-standing commitment to improving opportunities for:

Whānau (families)

Rangatahi (young people)

Māori communities across New Zealand

Before entering politics, Kelvin Davis worked extensively in the education sector, including as a school principal and educator, experiences that helped shape his advocacy for improving educational outcomes among Māori students.

During his political career, Davis served in several senior ministerial roles and became widely known for his focus on:

Māori development

Youth well-being

Social justice

Community empowerment

Educational equity

Stanford said his combination of practical education experience and public leadership would make him a valuable contributor to the advisory group's work.

Māori Education Advisory Group Focused on Equity

The Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) was established to provide specialist guidance and expert advice on raising achievement levels for Māori learners throughout the education system.

The group supports implementation of the government's Māori Education Action Plan and contributes expertise toward the government's six broader education priorities.

Its role includes advising on:

Educational equity

Māori student achievement

Culturally responsive education

System reform

Māori language and identity in education

Long-term policy development

The advisory group reports directly to the Minister of Education over a two-year term.

Improving Outcomes for Māori Learners Remains National Priority

Educational achievement gaps between Māori and non-Māori learners have long been a major issue within New Zealand's education system.

Research over many years has shown Māori students often face:

Lower educational attainment rates

Higher school disengagement

Reduced tertiary participation

Greater socioeconomic barriers

Systemic inequities

Governments and Māori education advocates have increasingly emphasized the need for culturally grounded and community-led approaches to education reform.

The Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group is intended to help ensure Māori perspectives, knowledge systems, and lived experiences are incorporated into education policy development.

Government Seeking Closer Collaboration With Māori Education Leaders

Minister Stanford said she is committed to working closely with Te Matakahuki and representative groups involved in Kaupapa Māori education to identify shared priorities.

Kaupapa Māori education refers to educational approaches grounded in Māori values, language, culture, and worldviews.

These models often emphasize:

Community connection

Cultural identity

Language revitalization

Holistic learning

Whānau involvement

The government says collaboration with Māori education leaders is essential for building an education system that better serves Māori learners and communities.

Advisory Group Includes Prominent Māori Education Figures

Kelvin Davis joins a highly experienced group of Māori education leaders, policy experts, and former senior educators already serving on the advisory body.

Will Workman (Chair)

Will Workman, of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Wairarapa descent, chairs the group.

He is a seasoned public policy specialist with extensive experience in Māori social and economic policy development and senior leadership roles across the New Zealand public service.

Workman was appointed in September 2024.

Olivia Hall

Olivia Hall, affiliated with Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, and Ngāti Kuia, has held major leadership positions across New Zealand's education sector.

She previously served as:

Chair of the Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group

Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua in Nelson

Hall has been recognized for her contributions to Māori educational leadership and iwi development.

Dame Georgina Kingi

Dame Georgina Kingi, of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, and Ngāi Tai descent, is widely respected for her decades-long leadership in Māori girls' education.

She served as principal of St Joseph's Māori Girls' College from 1987 until her retirement in late 2024.

Her leadership became nationally recognized for advancing high-quality education opportunities for Māori girls and strengthening Māori identity within schooling.

Billie-Jean Potaka-Ayton

Billie-Jean Potaka-Ayton, from Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Pikiao, has served as principal of Kaiti School in Gisborne for 15 years.

Under her leadership, Kaiti School became New Zealand's first Whānau Ora School, integrating educational support with broader family and community well-being services.

Her work has focused heavily on strengthening pathways for whānau and improving social outcomes alongside academic achievement.

Turi Ngatai

Turi Ngatai, affiliated with Ngaiterangi and Ngāti Ranginui of Tauranga Moana, has had a distinguished career across multiple levels of education.

His leadership experience includes:

School principal roles

Acting co-chief executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Executive Director Māori at the Open Polytechnic

He received the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 for services to education.

Māori Education Seen as Central to National Development

Education experts increasingly stress that improving Māori educational achievement is not only a social equity issue but also a major national development priority.

Stronger educational outcomes for Māori learners are closely linked to:

Economic opportunity

Employment outcomes

Community well-being

Cultural preservation

Social inclusion

New Zealand's education system has faced ongoing debate over how best to address structural inequalities while supporting Māori identity, language, and self-determination within schools and tertiary institutions.

Focus on Long-Term Systemic Change

The Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group is expected to play an important role in shaping long-term educational reforms and ensuring Māori voices remain central to policy discussions.

Key areas likely to remain priorities include:

Māori student retention

Literacy and numeracy achievement

Teacher workforce diversity

Māori language revitalization

Culturally responsive teaching

Equity in access to education

Education leaders argue that sustained collaboration between government, iwi, schools, educators, and communities will be essential for achieving meaningful progress.

Government Signals Continued Commitment to Māori Education

The appointment of Kelvin Davis signals continued government investment in Māori educational leadership and advisory structures.

By bringing together experienced educators, policymakers, and community leaders, the advisory group aims to strengthen efforts to build a more equitable and culturally responsive education system for future generations.

As New Zealand continues confronting longstanding disparities within education, the work of the Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group is expected to remain central to national discussions about inclusion, opportunity, and educational transformation.