Source: New Zealand Principals’ Federation
Research undertaken by the New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) reveals that the Māori Achievement Collaborative (MAC), delivered by facilitators employed by Te Arahou o AotearoaTrust, show strong, positive results for ākonga Māori succeeding at school.
NZCER researchers, Jackson Rowe-Williams and Nicola Bright used evidence from multiple sources, including both quantitative and qualitative data, to give MAC a top rating for contributing to the positive outcomes that are sustained and embedded in everyday practice across the MAC schools.
The summary of evidence is compelling:
- 88% of principals 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% of principals 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 reported as meeting or exceeding expectations and there was 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 contribution to change in the wider school communities, structures and systems was also noted with the kaupapa now spreading well beyond MAC schools into new schools, organisations, national and international conversations.
Critically, the evaluation confirms that MAC benefits are not confined to ākonga Māori. The research describes a genuine “ripple effect”. As principals grow in cultural confidence, this influences leadership teams, teachers, classrooms 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 MAC for over a decade,” said Leanne Otene, Tumu Whakarae (National Director) of MAC. “Funding ceased at the conclusion of 2025, but it is clear from the success of MAC that this is a kaupapa that cannot be ignored.”
“Principals across the motu recognise the transformative power of the MAC Kaupapa and the success it is bringing to all ākonga and their wider communities. There continues to be strong demand from school leaders for this professional learning,” she said.
“The Crown owes it to school principals, whānau and ākonga to take note of the research evidence and renew their support for the Māori Achievement Collaborative so that schools and students awaiting access are not excluded,” said Otene.
The full NZCER Evaluation Report can be found here: https://www.mac.ac.nz/nzcer-mac-evaluation-report-2026