in multicultural societies governments may want to create a skilled and knowledgeable workforce and prioritise shared values for building a sense of community meanwhile some people may be concerned with transmitting specific languages and customs to children while respecting specific beliefs on child rearing in the context of new zealand some of these considerations are given more specific weight and shape by the relationship between the crown and maori defined by the treaty of waitangi and the unique status of maori as tangata whenua indigenous curricula can contribute to balancing different expectations of early childhood development in the curriculum and ensure that expectations and needs of different stakeholders are met bennett sirajblatchford and woodhead vandenbroeck a focused curriculum with clear goals helps ensure that ece staff cover critical learning or development areas