The Act party isn't interested in any move to make matauranga Māori and te reo mandatory for teachers.

The Teaching Council has told a Royal Commission of Inquiry it believes that will eventually be the case.

Act leader David Seymour says it will put people off the profession.

He told Kate Hawkesby teachers already have enough on their plate, without having to worry about improving their te reo.

He says the initiative is another example of something teachers have to do for the Government, rather than what students may want.

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