Licensing criteria for kōhanga reo

Kōhanga reo run 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 are 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 wellbeing 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 Services) Regulations 2008.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link)

The Ministry does not provide guidance for the kōhanga reo licensing criteria. Guidance is available upon request directly from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

Contact – Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust(external link)

A copy of the criteria can be downloaded from the right-hand column.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

Working with others

Criteria for working with others:

  • C11: Whānau aspirations
    • Curriculum criterion 11

      Positive steps are taken to respect and acknowledge the aspirations held by whānau.

  • C12: Opportunities for parents
    • Curriculum criterion 12

      Regular opportunities (formal and informal) are provided for whānau to:

      • communicate about mokopuna with whānau responsible for providing learning opportunities and care, sharing information of mokopuna learning; and
      • be involved in decision making concerning mokopuna learning.
  • C13: Seeking information
    • Curriculum criterion 13

      Information and guidance is sought from appropriate agencies as required to enable whānau responsible for providing learning opportunities and care to work effectively with mokopuna and their whānau. Where the service provider is not Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, the service provider will seek information and guidance from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.