In 2010, the Ministry of Education introduced a new curriculum, Ngā Whanaketanga, for Māori-medium setting kura, and with it have kura kaupapa reconsider its 'Te Aho Matua' curriculum. At Te Rūnanganui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori's recent AGM, the notion was rejected in a mass boycott by all kura.
The Kura Kaupapa body is putting its foot down, and sent a message to the Government that its students shouldn't be measured against their mainstream peers.
The letter urges that kura kaupapa practicing Te Aho Matua be exempt from Ngā Whanaketanga, while they continue to develop Te Aho Matua curriculum.
There are 9000 students currently learning in te reo Māori, 7000 of those children are under Te Aho Matua.
Te Rūnanga nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori is three years into its own academic measuring programme and wants the Government to let it complete what it started.
Reporter: Heeni Brown.