Dr Lesley Rameka, of Taupō, CNZM for services to Māori and early childhood education
Dr Lesley Rameka (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tukorehe) is the leading Māori academic in early learning in New Zealand. Her work on curriculum, assessment and teaching qualifications has been instrumental in professionalising Māori-medium early childhood education (ECE). She has provided research guidance and resources for ECE teachers to use Māori concepts and values. She was project coordinator for ‘Te Whatu Pōkeka: Kaupapa Māori assessment for learning’. She has led or written key curriculum resources for the Ministry of Education and was an Expert Advisory Group member for implementation of Te Whāriki. She has been principal or associate investigator with several Teaching Learning and Research Initiative, Ministry of Social Development and Marsden-funded research projects. Dr Rameka was National President of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand and remains a Council member.