This paper summarises the key issues and challenges that have emerged from a recent major report by the authors on Maori-medium education in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The discussion is situated within a wider international analysis of bilingual/immersion programmes, including heritage language programmes for indigenous peoples. Key issues explored…

Drawing on social and political theory, this article argues that the retention and promotion of specific group-based rights--in this case, indigenous language and education rights--need not result in social and linguistic closure. Principles underlying such rights are illustrated by an extended analysis of recent Maori language-immersion…