Kaupapa Maori schools have begun work on a long-held goal - their own curriculum.
Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori chairman Rawiri Wright says initial work on the issue is a joint project with the Ministry of Education.
He says it will explore why a kura-specific curriculum is needed.
There is already a Maori-medium curriculum, but kura want one based on their guiding philosophy, Te Aho Matua.
Mr Wright says a new curriculum would be more holistic than the current one and would reflect what kura teachers are already doing.
He says it would also encourage development of resources that better support the way kura work.
Initial work on the curriculum should be finished by November.
Mr Wright says it makes sense for the ministry to support kura reach their goal because Maori children are more successful at kura than in mainstream schools.
