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construct<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>curriculum</strong> were developed (Te One, 2003). One of these was that<br />

“consideration of social and cultural context was a major source for the model<br />

chosen” (Carr & May, 1993, p. 15). Indeed the document was considered to be<br />

ground-break<strong>in</strong>g because it was “<strong>based</strong> on socio-cultural pr<strong>in</strong>ciples” (Scrivens,<br />

2005, p. 55). The importance of the socio cultural context of Te Whāriki has also<br />

been discussed by other academics (Cullen, 2003; Fleer, 2003; Nuttall & Edwards,<br />

2007; Ritchie, 2002a; Scrivens, 2005).<br />

Carr and May set up specialised <strong>early</strong> childhood work<strong>in</strong>g groups and<br />

“embarked on an ambitious, fourteen-month consultative exercise that aimed to<br />

reflect exist<strong>in</strong>g discourses on <strong>early</strong> childhood <strong>in</strong> all their diversity” (Te One, 2003,<br />

pp. 30-31). In addition the M<strong>in</strong>istry appo<strong>in</strong>ted an Advisory Group whose members<br />

were mostly from the <strong>early</strong> childhood sector who “met regularly for two years to<br />

discuss the draft versions” (Te One, 2003, p. 31). By 1991 the draft of a national<br />

<strong>early</strong> childhood <strong>curriculum</strong>, Te Whāriki (M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education, 1993), was<br />

underway.<br />

The idealism of the national <strong>early</strong> childhood <strong>curriculum</strong> Te Whāriki can be<br />

seen from the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of the development process. As there was partnership<br />

with Te Kōhanga Reo Trust to produce the separate Māori <strong>curriculum</strong> sections of<br />

the document were written <strong>in</strong> te reo Māori. This Māori partnership was used to<br />

“position the parallel doma<strong>in</strong>s for Pākehā, which later became the goals. These<br />

were not translations” (Te One, 2003, p. 33). However, they were <strong>in</strong>formed by<br />

Māori world views. Carr and May frequently discussed these with Te Kohānga<br />

Reo Trust representatives and addressed “how to weave the Māori and Pākehā<br />

concepts together” (Te One, 2003, p. 29 cit<strong>in</strong>g personal communication by May<br />

(nd)).<br />

The development of Te Whāriki was <strong>in</strong>tended to affirm current philosophy<br />

and practice, and to def<strong>in</strong>e overall pr<strong>in</strong>ciples for <strong>early</strong> childhood education <strong>in</strong><br />

Aotearoa New Zealand. The M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education (1996) deemed it important to<br />

have a cohesive framework which covered the period from birth to school age.<br />

Indeed the purpose of Te Whāriki was to be “a <strong>curriculum</strong> framework that will<br />

form the basis for consistent <strong>curriculum</strong> and programmes <strong>in</strong> chartered <strong>early</strong><br />

childhood education services” (M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education, 1996, p. 10).<br />

29

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