Saturday, March 14, 2026

Government to drop Treaty of Waitangi obligation for school boards

Treaty of Waitangi

The Government will remove the legal requirement for school boards to “give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” saying it is unfair to expect parent volunteers to uphold Crown obligations under the Treaty.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said boards should focus on improving attendance and achievement rather than interpreting constitutional responsibilities, arguing the 2020 clause had not improved Māori student outcomes.

Her legislation, now before Parliament, will replace the clause with a directive for boards to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori learners and support teaching in te reo Māori when requested.



The move follows political debate and criticism from lobby group Hobson’s Pledge, while opposition parties say the change “weakens accountability” for addressing disparities in Māori education.

Image credit: KOBU Agency

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3 COMMENTS

  1. “while opposition parties say the change “weakens accountability” for addressing disparities in Māori education.” LOL, the tow immersion only teaches how to promote victimhood and grievance into perpetuity. The tow is a cancer on NZ.

    • The Treaty Industry
      Like the Holocaust Industry
      A victim a minority group a parasite a predator
      Shoa business is big business
      Some people get it

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