Over 300 education unionists from across the Asia-Pacific region condemned the Coalition Government’s systematic dismantling of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and mātauranga Māori in the New Zealand education system.
Delegates at the 10th Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) Regional Conference in Jakarta passed a resolution late on Thursday NZ time – moved by NZEI Te Riu Roa, Post Primary Teachers’ Association | Te Wehengarua, and the Tertiary Education Union | Te Hautū Kahurangi – calling the moves racist and regressive.
Speaking from the conference, NZEI Te Riu Roa National Secretary Stephanie Mills said: “By abolishing school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations, sidelining Māori voices and educators’ opposition to curriculum changes, and removing Aotearoa and other Māori words from the curriculum, they are stripping away the foundations of culturally responsive learning."
“Educators across the Pacific stand united in calling on the Minister of Education to restore school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations and honour genuine partnership with Māori,” Ms Mills added.
The resolution commits the EIAP regional conference and its affiliate unions to write to the Minister of Education, urging her to restore school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations and engage genuinely with Māori and educators in curriculum development.
The move follows an urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry sought earlier this year by NZEI Te Riu Roa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, and Te Kapotai.
The groups challenged the removal of school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations and the deprioritisation of te reo Māori, tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and Aotearoa histories, arguing the changes have caused “significant and irreversible prejudice” to Māori.
In its report released last month, the Tribunal found the Government breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of partnership, active protection, equity, and good government by pushing through sweeping curriculum changes without genuine consultation or co-design with Māori.