A petition signed by over 24,000 people has been handed to New Zealand’s Education Minister, asking for a law change to be reversed. The law had removed a rule that made school boards honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi—the Treaty of Waitangi—in their decisions.
The National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF), which represents Māori leaders from across the country, led the petition. Their education group, the Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group, said the change was a step backwards and that the Treaty must stay at the heart of school decision-making.
Rāhui Papa, chair of the group, said many schools, boards, and teachers had chosen to support the Treaty themselves. He pointed out that more than 60% of schools had publicly backed it, showing it was something they deeply cared about.
At Parliament, Education Minister Erica Stanford accepted the petition and said the government shares many hopes for Māori children, or tamariki Māori. She promised to keep supporting te reo Māori in schools and teacher training. But some in the crowd were unhappy and booed during her speech.
Labour’s education spokesperson, Willow-Jean Prime, said the minister had not properly listened to Māori voices before making the change. She also said that more than 1,600 schools had now promised to keep supporting the Treaty, even without the rule.
Teacher union leader Ripeka Lessels added that honouring the Treaty and helping students achieve well can go hand in hand. She said it already works in Māori-led schools and should continue across the country.
