The question of multicultural schools, like many other aspects of education, cannot be considered only in educational terms. Before beginning to consider what a multicultural school may be like, two crucial points must be understood: first, a decision in favor of multicultural schooling is a political decision, not an educational one; and second, multicultural schools can only exist in a multicultural society. When reviewing the literature on multiculturalism and particularly on multicultural education, it is clear that practically no consensus is to be found over the meaning of the terms. Using definitions of multicultural society, it becomes apparent that New Zealand is not a multicultural society, and is unlikely to ever become one. New Zealand falls into the category of a multi-ethnic society, where Maori and Pakeha share the economic institutions (based on European models) but keep separate the non-economic aspects. A Maori identity has survived (though not unchanged) 200 years of contact with Europeans, and with an increasing political awareness the minority is beginning to have an impact on some of the attitudes of the majority so that the shared institutions (particularly education) are modifying to incorporate and reflect aspects of the Maori culture. (AH)