Refresh of Action Plan for Pacific Education The Action Plan for Pacific Education has been refreshed in 2023 to set out the next set of actions to support Pacific education success, and to strengthen the strategic focus on Pacific languages in education. The 2023 refresh of the Action Plan: ● ● Has a strengthened strategic focus on Pacific bilingual and immersion education and Pacific Languages in Education ● ● Includes the next set of Government actions to achieve the vision and key shifts. The Action Plan identifies five key shifts and a set of actions that are needed to achieve this vision: 1. work reciprocally with diverse Pacific communities to respond to unmet needs, including growing and supporting Pacific bilingual and immersion education pathways; 2. confront systemic racism and discrimination in education; 3. enable every teacher, leader and educational professional to take coordinated action to become culturally competent with diverse Pacific learners; 4. partner with families to design education opportunities together with teachers, leaders and educational professionals so aspirations for learning and employment can be met; and 5. grow, retain and value highly competent teachers, leaders and educational professionals with diverse Pacific whakapapa. Find out more here: https://www.education. govt.nz/news/refresh-of-action-plan-forpacific-education/ Centrally funded workforce wellbeing package extended Temporary wellbeing support services to support the education sector through the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended. These include Gold Star and Employment Assistance Programme (EAP) counselling support. Gold Star, an interactive online tool that can be accessed any time, will continue until June 2024. EAP counselling support has been extended until December 2023. Ensure your staff are aware of both of these supports and which are available to all staff at early learning centres (including Kōhanga Reo), kindergartens, playcentres and home-based services. More information can be found at:https://temahau.govt.nz/covid-19/covid-19-and-wellbeing/workforcewellbeing-package New Zealand Book Award Winners The winners of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been revealed and for the first time a bilingual book has taken out the top prize. Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by Mat Tait (NgātiApaki te rātō) was presented with the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award, Aotearoa’s highest accolade in children’s literature. Te Wehenga presents the Māori creation pūrākau, which explains the beginning of the world, simultaneously in te reo Māori and English. Younger readers will enjoy Duck Goes Meow by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Carla Martell, which won the Picture Book Award. The judges loved that it delivers a conclusion that surprises the animals in the story and readers alike. The Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori was awarded to KuaWhetūrangitia a Koro by Brianne Te Paa, illustrated byStory Hemi-Morehouse, which offers an opportunity to learn about the tikanga surrounding Matariki. Finally, the NZSA Best First Book Award went to inspiring and refreshing modern fairytale The Lighthouse Princess by Susan Wardell, illustrated by Rose Northey. August 2023 { 18 }
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