NZEI Te Riu Roa is urging the Waitangi Tribunal to recommend that the Government restore the mandatory obligation for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The education union also demands an immediate halt to the finalisation and rollout of The New Zealand Curriculum | Te Mātaiaho and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa as they are not fit for purpose.
In a brief to the Tribunal, NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels sought remedies for the harm and prejudice caused to Māori by “a pattern of Crown conduct that has systematically undermined Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in education.”
“The Crown’s removal of school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations late last year was in breach of the principles of partnership, active protection, and tino rangatiratanga,” Mrs Lessels said.
“We are advocating for an education system that is equitable, honours its promises to Māori, and ensures every ākonga sees themselves in their learning.”
In March, the Waitangi Tribunal granted an urgent inquiry application from NZEI Te Riu Roa, Te Rūnunga o Ngāti Hine, and Te Kapotai. The inquiry addresses the Government’s decision to remove legal obligations for school boards to uphold Te Tiriti – a move made under urgency last year and without consulting Māori or the education sector.
The groups are also challenging the deprioritisation of te reo Māori, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori, and the decision to replace Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories with a ‘rebalanced’ curriculum.
Despite the removal of the legal mandate, more than 1,840 school boards – 72 per cent of the national total – have publicly committed to continue honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Citing a lack of genuine engagement with Māori, Mrs Lessels proposed extending the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa consultation to match the window given to the English-medium New Zealand Curriculum.
While both consultations close on 24 April 2026, the Ministry of Education opened the English-medium process on 28 October 2025. This leaves tumuaki and kaiako with only half the time to provide feedback on the draft Te Marautanga o Aotearoa framework and Tau 0-10 wāhanga ako. For the Pūmanawa Tangata wāhanga ako (social science learning area), the draft was released on 7 April, leaving the sector with only 18 days for feedback.
NZEI is also calling on the Government to:
establish an independent monitoring body, which will include NZEI and Māori education sector representatives, to oversee Crown compliance with Te Tiriti obligations in education.
reinstate funding for Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori and Resource Teachers Māori.
set binding requirements for future Ministerial Advisory Groups, ensuring all members have a demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti and te ao Māori.
ENDS