Bilingualism in early childhood settings

Dr Mere Skerrett (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rakiāmoa, Ngāti Ruahikihiki, Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Te Rangiunuora, Ngāti Pūkeko) is the Head of School in the Faculty of Education at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. She has a background in teaching and researching in both the early childhood and primary education sectors, with a focus on Kōhanga Reo and Māori/English bilingualism. She recently graduated as the top female graduate (te kirikawa) from Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, the Institute of Excellence in Māori Language. She has been the recipient of several awards (a doctoral award and networking award from her Tainui people), and the Te Pā Harakeke Award of commitment to Kāi Tahu whānau and leadership in te reo Māori. She is the 2022 recipient of the ‘Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti’ Award from the New Zealand Association for Research in Education which recognises researchers who have made a significant contribution to Māori education by conducting high-quality research over an extended period of time and the 2025 recipient of the Critical Perspectives in ECE – Distinguished Career Contribution Award from the American Education Research Association. Mere has also been an International Research Fellow with the Velma E. Schmidt International Critical Childhood Policy Studies Collaborative under the leadership of Professor Gaile Cannella.