Education Minister Erica Stanford said $30 million is needed for maths workbooks, guidance and lesson plans for the 2025 school year, which had to be sourced from somewhere.
The coalition's focus on the maths curriculum comes after just 22% of year 8 students were found to be at the expected standard for maths.
"Just 45 percent of high school students are passing foundational maths. I am not prepared to look parents in the eye and allow the 60,000 kids starting school next year to be on a similar trajectory," she said today.
"Maths achievement needs to be prioritised."
Since 2019, $100 million has been set aside for teachers to learn te reo Māori, but Stanford said there was no evidence it directly impacted students and their achievement.
The te reo Māori initiative was not accredited and was more than double the cost of similar courses available, she said.
"An evaluation of the programme found no evidence it directly impacted progress and achievements for students. The review also couldn't qualify what impact the programme had on te reo Māori use in the classroom."
"This government is committed to the revitalisation of te reo Māori and recognises the importance of the language in our schools," Stanford said.
"We will work with the Wānanga, tertiary providers and private training establishments to continue to make similar courses available free of charge. Funding for te reo Māori courses in Māori medium schools and kura will also remain."
From October 21, primary schools will be able to choose the maths resources and supports that best suit them from a range of approved suppliers.
Stanford said the resources will be sent to schools to begin using from the start of term 1 next year.
The resources will also be available in te reo Māori "so there is equitable access across our education system," she said.
The funding that has been diverted to maths resources has come from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori.
