How can teachers and schools meaningfully support the success and wellbeing of Māori learners? In this webinar, Dr Hana Turner-Adams from Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland will share insights from her extensive research into Māori student success, teacher expectations, and the powerful impact of culturally sustaining practices.
Drawing on the experiences of Māori teachers and learners, Hana will explore how relationships, identity, and culture shape learning experiences, and why educators play a crucial role as agents of change within their classrooms and wider school communities. She will offer practical strategies for disrupting inequities by fostering belonging, raising expectations, and creating learning environments where ākonga Māori feel valued, challenged, and supported to excel.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, school leader, or simply committed to strengthening Māori educational success, this webinar will deepen your understanding and offer actionable approaches for making a positive difference. Join us for a thought-provoking session focused on centring Māori learners and transforming educational practice so that all ākonga can thrive.
Dr Hana Turner-Adams (Ngāti Ranginui) is a senior lecturer and the Assistant Dean Teaching and Learning (Māori) in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. Before transitioning to higher education in 2015, she taught in primary, intermediate, and secondary schools for 12 years, bringing with her an understanding of the pivotal role teachers play in shaping the educational journeys of young people. Hana teaches Māori education courses in undergraduate and graduate initial teacher education programmes, contributes to postgraduate courses in research methods and culturally sustaining leadership, and supervises master’s and doctoral students. Her research focuses on Māori student success, teacher expectations, and the experiences of Māori teachers and learners. Central to her work is the recognition that teachers are critical agents of change: their expectations, practices, and relationships with students profoundly influence educational outcomes and can either perpetuate or disrupt inequities.