Racial Harmony threat

The inadequate educational achievement of the Maori offered the greatest threat to New Zealand's heritage of racial harmony, Mr Turoa Royal, an officer of the Department of Education, said at the Race Relations Seminar at the University of Wailkato.

New Zealand could not afford to have a depressed racial minority and a source of unskilled labour in an economy that had less and less need for labour of that type, said Mr Royal.

"There is an urgent need to advance Maori education sufficiently to prevent the - development of an unemployable proletariat," he said.

"The nation cannot afford to waste any of the ability of its children, and we should develop the almost untapped professional talent of the Maori people for the benefit of all."

Mr Royal said there was ample proof that Maori children were under-achieving educationally. He cited the low percentage of those who attain School Certificate and University Entrance, and figures showing the probable destinations of Maori School leavers.

The under-achievement was the result of a number of factors including language difficulties, inadequately trained teachers, economic and social conditions, and the problems associated with living in urban districts, Mr Royal said.

"If other races are setting about the task of integrating and adapting to the needs of modern society, the Maori should certainly not lag behind," he said.

"As part of the New Zealand population, and indeed a growing proportion playing an important part in the economy, the Maori has the right to all the facilities in which he can grow and reach his full intellectual capacity," said Mr Royal.