New Zealand. Bicultural Identity in a Multicultural Nation
(Seeds of Knowledge — National Identity Series #7)
How can a nation honour Indigenous identity as a central pillar of its national story, while also embracing multicultural diversity?
New Zealand (Aotearoa) offers one of the world’s most deliberate efforts to do this, through bicultural foundations built on partnership between the Indigenous Māori people and all other citizens, grounded in the Treaty of Waitangi.
Its education system provides important lessons for any country striving to create a national identity that is inclusive, just, and future-focused.
1. Bicultural foundation: the Treaty of Waitangi
Signed in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi established the relationship between Māori iwi (tribes) and the Crown. Today, it is recognised as the founding document of modern New Zealand, and its principles shape national identity and education.
All New Zealand students learn about the Treaty, its history, and its ongoing relevance. This builds understanding of Māori rights, history, and cultural contributions, helping all young people see Māori identity as central, not marginal, to the nation.
2. Embedding Māori language and culture
The Māori language (Te Reo Māori) is an official language of New Zealand, and efforts to revitalise it are woven throughout education. Students learn Māori greetings, songs, values (tikanga), and stories, fostering a living connection to Indigenous culture.
This goes beyond token inclusion: many schools embrace kaupapa Māori (Māori worldview) approaches to pedagogy and school culture.
3. Balancing bicultural and multicultural identity
New Zealand is also one of the most multicultural societies in the world. The education system helps students explore both:
Bicultural identity based on Māori and Pākehā (European settler) partnership
Multicultural belonging recognising the contributions of immigrant communities from across the globe
Students are encouraged to develop a deep respect for Māori heritage, while also celebrating New Zealand’s diverse and evolving society.
4. Identity as shared responsibility
A unique aspect of New Zealand’s model is its emphasis on partnership, not “teaching about Māori” but walking alongside Māori, recognising shared responsibility to uphold the Treaty and build an equitable society.
As Māori scholar Mason Durie writes:
“The goal is not assimilation, but mutual respect, shared learning, and the flourishing of both Māori and non-Māori identities within a shared nation.”
An inspiring model of shared identity
New Zealand shows that **national identity can be:
rooted in Indigenous rights
open to multicultural contributions
committed to justice, partnership, and shared future-building.**
It challenges educators globally to ask……. Whose voices shape the national story we teach? Whose values are centred? How can we honour both heritage and diversity?
In the next article, we will continue our global exploration, learning from more countries seeking to build inclusive, evolving national identities in a rapidly changing world.
