Licensing criteria for Ngā Kōhanga Reo

Te Kōhanga Reo is a total immersion te reo Māori whānau (family) programme for mokopuna (young children) from birth to six years of age to be raised within its whānau Māori, where the language of communication will be Māori.

The operation and decision making of each Kōhanga Reo is the responsibility of the whole whānau within the guidelines set down by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. The Trust and the Kōhanga Reo Whānau administer the kaupapa to ensure the safety and well-being of the mokopuna and the whānau and to ensure the survival of te reo Māori.

Kōhanga reo are currently chartered to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Early childhood centres) Regulations 1998.

The new regulatory system including the criteria has been now been approved by the Minister of Education and notices have been published in the New Zealand Gazette.

A copy of the criteria can be downloaded from the right hand column. A printed copy relating to your service type will be posted as soon as the print copies become available.

This section will also be updated to reflect the new criteria in the context of the standards and guidance.