Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.

We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.

The intent of the Standard

Engaging with the study and interpretation of literary texts allows ākonga to draw on their own identity and experiences. It gives them opportunities to gain insights into people, cultures, perspectives, and places beyond what they already know. 

Throughout a year-long teaching and learning programme, ākonga will have studied a range of literary texts. These will include texts that give ākonga the opportunity to learn about the unique nature of Aotearoa New Zealand, through the study of Māori voices and perspectives in literature. This Achievement Standard requires ākonga to draw on their learning from throughout the year on how meanings and effects are created in texts. 

This Achievement Standard aligns with the following items of Significant Learning: 

• interpret ideas within and between texts from a range of contexts 
• identify and understand the features of language use in particular contexts 
• show a developed understanding of how writers position their intended audience through using the language conventions and techniques, point of view, structure, contexts, and intended purpose that shape a range of texts 
• take a stance and explain their interpretations of increasingly complex texts, using examples and/or details primarily from the text but also from beyond it. 

When ākonga study a range of literary texts throughout a year-long teaching and learning programme, they develop their ability to understand aspects of texts. The skills used to interpret unfamiliar texts are foundational, and ākonga will use these skills to succeed in any pathways they choose. The ability to make inferences about the language choices used by text creators and their effects is one that connects to other Significant Learning in English. It also helps ākonga to navigate learning in other subjects, both in and beyond the classroom. 

Making reliable judgements

Ākonga will be able to support their understanding of how aspects of texts create meaning and effects, by providing evidence in the form of specific and relevant details from the text(s). At higher levels of achievement, ākonga will be able to draw on their learning around writer's purpose, as well as wider contexts, such as human experience, society, and the wider world. They will be able to weave a range of well-chosen examples into their responses to support their understanding of the unfamiliar texts. 

Collecting evidence

Refer to the External Assessment Specifications for further information. 

Possible contexts

Understanding unfamiliar texts is a foundational skill in English. Every text that a student encounters for the first time is ‘unfamiliar’ so there are many opportunities in a year’s worth of teaching and learning for ākonga to learn how to approach, interpret, and understand unfamiliar texts. The study of unfamiliar texts, and in particular learning about meaning and effects, can be woven into written text studies. Learning about meaning and effects also complements engagement in the writing process and supports the development of skills necessary for the assessment of Achievement Standard 1.2. Through engaging with a wide range of texts throughout the year, ākonga will learn how aspects of te ao Māori are woven through Māori literature and how Māori storytelling shapes texts. 

Standard Exclusions

This Standard has one or more exclusions, or Standards that assess the same or similar learning. These Standards are excluded against one another to prevent assessing the same learning twice. You can only use credits gained from one of these standards towards your NCEA qualification.

Find out more about the NCEA Level 1 Exclusions List.

Literacy and Numeracy Requirements

This Achievement Standard has been approved for literacy in the transition period (2024-2027). 

Full information on the co-requisite during the transition period: Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027).