National MP Judith Collins doesn't want to see quality overseas teachers overlooked because of Te Reo Maori requirements.

The Education Minister expects all teachers to be able to pronounce their students' names correctly out of respect for language, culture and identity.

Hekia Parata said living in a multi-cultural society meant all teachers had to be respectful of a student's culture in the same way that overseas teachers working in New Zealand schools would expect their culture to be respected.

Questions have been raised over why maths and science teachers need to be competent in Te Reo Maori and whether it's closing the door to quality overseas teachers.

According to the Ministry of Education all teachers were expected to have an "understanding of the bi-cultural heritage of New Zealand", but National MP Judith Collins was baffled it extended to maths and science teachers working in English-speaking schools.

Her National party colleague Melissa Lee was equally concerned that overseas teachers were expected to be competent in Te Reo Maori.

"We're a party of strong individuals but certainly I've never experienced any concern from either of my colleagues as to my own bilingualism," Parata said.

She was "relaxed about both the debate and the need to ensure teachers are pronouncing kids' names well".

Overseas teachers coming to work in New Zealand schools should have the same grasp of Maori culture that Kiwi teachers are expected to, said NZ First education spokeswoman Tracey Martin.

No school would turn away a teacher who couldn't pronounce Maori names properly - the fact that they tried was what mattered, she said.

"We've got a science teacher from China at Mahurangi College. She can't say Te Reo names but she tries - all we're asking is that she tries."

Martin said it was Collins and Lee's own Government and Minister, who introduced the requirements around teaching of Te Reo Maori.

"It sounded like very flippant comments from them about what is one of our official languages," Martin said.

The debate arose at the education and science select committee on Wednesday where the ministry was reporting to MPs about the requirements around teaching of Te Reo Maori in all schools.

Collins asked the ministry what level of Maori competency was expected of secondary school maths and science teachers not working in Maori immersion schools.

This comes on the back of evidence that specialist maths and science teachers were in short supply.

Ministry deputy secretary of student achievement Graham Stoop said a cultural understanding, an understanding of basic language items and good pronunciation were crucial.

"There's an expectation that all teachers entering the education service will have an understanding of these issues alongside their subject specialities."

Teachers going through initial teacher educators (ITEs) would be trained in Te Reo Maori competency but overseas teachers would also receive training through professional development at the school where they taught.

"I understand what you're trying to do and it's really important people do their very best on this but it would be a real shame if we missed out on quality teachers as well, who we do need," Collins said.

Lee waded into the debate saying she had lived in New Zealand for 30 years and still didn't know a lot of Te Reo Maori.

"When you're talking about pronunciation a lot of Asian people have difficulty pronouncing different languages...so what is enough for a teacher?"

Stoop said there wouldn't be a school in the country that wasn't sensitive to the "bi-cultural framework of this country's history and the expectations with respect to that".

Lee said it was "wrong" if maths and science teachers from different cultures missed out because their Maori wasn't up to scratch.

"I think you'd find schools are alert to this and they're sensitive to it," Stoop said.

Labour education spokesman Chris Hipkins said asking all teachers to be aware of Maori culture was "perfectly reasonable".

"It's a legitimate debate to be having and we need to ensure all teachers in the classroom have a good understanding of Maori."

Green Party education spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said the debate was a side-issue as there was no school in the country that would "turn away competent teachers".

Delahunty and Martin initiated the ministry report on Te Reo Maori to find out how much resourcing and support was provided to English-medium schools to meet Te Reo Maori requirements.