NZEI Te Riu Roa supports the Waitangi Tribunal’s call for the Government to recommit to partnering with Māori in education, particularly by co-designing a truly indigenous Māori-medium curriculum.
In a 260-page report released this afternoon, 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.
The Tribunal heavily criticised the Minister of Education for pursuing an “ideological” approach, noting she surrounded herself with advisers who were “unenthusiastic about or outwardly hostile to mātauranga Māori.”
“The Tribunal’s findings are clear – the Minister overhauled the national curriculum in clear disregard for Māori voices, opposition from educators, a lack of evidence that it reduces inequities, and in relative secrecy,” NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels said.
“If the Minister ignores these latest Tribunal recommendations, it will not only deepen the prejudice faced by ākonga Māori but also contradict her stated goal of achieving equitable outcomes,” Mrs Lessels said.
“The new curriculum sends a damaging signal to ākonga Māori and older generations that their identity and mātauranga are somehow less important.”
“We urge the Government to pause, respect Te Tiriti, and genuinely collaborate with Māori and educators to build an education system that serves all ākonga fairly,” Mrs Lessels added.
In its Platform for Change 2026, NZEI Te Riu Roa is calling for cross-party commitments to five key actions over the next five years to boost the quality of teaching and learning for tamariki:
- Funding a teacher aide in every class
- Investing in quality early childhood education
- Valuing educators better
- Upholding Te Tiriti in the curriculum and wider education system, and
- Creating an independent Curriculum and Assessment Council.