NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes a Waitangi Tribunal direction issued this morning. urging the Government to defer releasing all updated New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa content until concerns raised by educators are ruled on.
The Tribunal has requested an update from the Government on its ability to postpone the release.
“We support the Tribunal’s direction to pause the release,” NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels said. “The Minister has delayed implementation of the new curriculum next year after listening to the profession, so she now has the time to listen again to the profession and to iwi Māori and make sure we get the new curriculum right for all our students.”
The Minister of Education has proposed releasing the social sciences and sciences learning areas as soon as next week (12 August), in spite of backing down on a requirement to implement the new learning areas from January 2027. Full implementation will now not be required until 2029.
“Rushing these changes through without proper consultation with teachers or iwi undermines our education system and fails to value educators’ expertise or matauranga Māori. The Government must stop the release until the Tribunal delivers its full report,” Mrs Lessels said.
“The weakening of schools’ ability to make localise curriculum content and meaningfully incorporate knowledge from te ao Māori, combined with the removal of school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations late last year, is deeply concerning,” Mrs Lessels said. “Our tamariki deserve a curriculum that honours Te Tiriti and reflects the local stories of their communities.”
Mrs Lessels said flaws in the proposed content are the direct result of the Government’s failure to engage with Māori and frontline educators.
In its memorandum-directions, the Waitangi Tribunal expressed concern that there would be insufficient time between the conclusion of hearings and the proposed rollout dates for the Ministry of Education to digest feedback and make genuine changes.
“Awaiting the Tribunal’s report before releasing the revised curriculum content would enable the Government to have the benefit of the outcomes of the Tribunal’s inquiry, including any associated findings and recommendations,” the Tribunal noted.
The Tribunal added that it shares educators’ concerns that flaws in the curriculum content stem from insufficient engagement and input from Māori and the education sector, stating: “Whether the Crown has satisfied its treaty obligations of partnership and active protection of taonga Māori is a matter we are taking seriously.”
The Tribunal intends to release its stage two report before 9 September, when remaining curriculum documents are scheduled for release.