Secondary Principals Urge Education Minister To Reverse Te Tiriti Decision

The Secondary Principals’ Council of Aotearoa has written an open letter to Education Minister Erica Stanford, asking her to reverse her decision to remove from law the requirement for school boards to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Kate Gainsford, chair of the Secondary Principals’ Council (SPC), says the council believes that removing Te Tiriti requirement is a breach of the Crown’s Te Tiriti obligations.

In the letter the council says that schools should be places where ākonga Māori and their whānau feel a sense of belonging and connection. “We add our voices to the many and publicly commit to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our schools.

“SPC principals will continue to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in governance, curriculum, leadership, and community partnership as an unchanged moral and professional obligation.

“Our principal members work hard with their Boards to ensure schools’ plans, policies, and curricula reflect local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori, and take reasonable steps to make instruction in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori available.

“We do this because we know that our Māori students (25% of the 2023 population) need to see themselves reflected in the education they are receiving and the aims and expectations of their country’s education system. Honouring Te Tiriti ensures every child feels valued, respected and represented in their learning.”

The letter says the removal of the explicit obligation to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi sends a damaging message to students, staff, and communities that the principles of partnership, participation, and protection are negotiable, variable and able to be avoided.

“Voluntary commitments alone cannot guarantee equity. Legislation matters because it sets expectations, protects progress, and ensures every board in Aotearoa New Zealand holds the same responsibility to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

Kate Gainsford said she was extremely disappointed by the reaction this week from the Minister and other Government MPs to the groundswell of school boards committing to upholding Te Tiriti and asking for the decision to be reversed.

“Suggesting that boards are being put under undue pressure to take this action is an insult to board members and their intelligence and independence. We urge the Government to put its defensiveness aside and listen to the concerns of the thousands of New Zealanders who give so much of their time and effort into governing our schools.”

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