Educators Call for Immediate Pause on Contentious School Treaty Reforms

The Waitangi Tribunal wraps an urgent inquiry as teachers and iwi warn that the government's curriculum reset and removal of Treaty duties harm Māori learners.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 6:12 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Urgent Inquiry Into the National Curriculum Reset

The Waitangi Tribunal inquiry focused on two primary government actions: the elimination of a mandatory legal requirement for school boards to "give effect" to Te Tiriti and a significant reset of the national curriculum. Claimants provided evidence suggesting that these reforms were pushed through despite explicit warnings from the Ministry of Education and the government’s own advisory groups. Ripeka Lessels, president of NZEI Te Riu Roa, emphasized that a mandatory legal framework is the only way to ensure a consistent and equitable environment for ākonga Māori (Māori learners) across the diverse schooling network.

Crown Admissions on Lack of Engagement

During the proceedings, Crown witnesses reportedly admitted that no formal engagement with Māori occurred regarding the removal of these legal obligations. This lack of dialogue was further highlighted by the summoning of Justice Secretary Andrew Kibblewhite, who provided clarity on the government's "Treaty References Review." This review, a key component of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement, seeks to amend 23 laws to replace the robust "give effect" language with the more passive "take into account." A Regulatory Impact Statement from the Ministry of Justice warned that this shift offers "no apparent benefits" while risking significant damage to the Māori-Crown relationship.

Concerns Over Mātauranga Māori and History

Witnesses throughout the week raised alarms regarding the content of the new draft curriculum, which some claim sidelines Māori history, language, and indigenous knowledge (mātauranga Māori). Watson Ohia, representing Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi, told the tribunal that the changes represent a breach of good faith and broken agreements between iwi and the Ministry. The inquiry also heard concerns that the consultation window for the Māori-medium curriculum (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) was significantly shorter than its English-medium counterpart, suggesting an uneven prioritization in the reform process.