Te Akatea Rejects "Recolonisation" Of Education At Urgent Waitangi Tribunal Hearing

Leaders from Te Akatea, a collective of hundreds of Māori educators, recently presented evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal challenging the Crown's systematic dismantling of bicultural progress in the education sector. Representing principals, senior leaders and teachers across all levels of education, CEO Bruce Jepsen and senior researcher Dr Therese Ford voiced Te Akatea’s opposition to the removal of legislative protections and the "recolonisation" of the New Zealand Curriculum. 

A Position of Protection 

Te Akatea clarified its firm stance against the proposed New Zealand Curriculum 2025, refusing to use the name that was gifted to the original curriculum in 2023 - "Te Mātaiaho" for the new draft. While Te Akatea members were part of the 2023 curriculum refresh, they state that the current version fails to authentically reflect the "whakapapa" of that collaborative work. 

"We wanted a curriculum that was decolonising in nature, intentionally anti-racist, and genuinely equity-focused," the collective stated. Instead, they argue the new curriculum deprioritises Te Tiriti o Waitangi and marginalises Māori intelligence and history. Jepsen states, ‘The draft curriculum has huge legitimacy issues when it comes to culturally informed education.’

The Impact: A "Big Year of Erosion" 

The presentation detailed a "wider pattern" of actions that seek to reduce te reo, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori. Notable impacts highlighted include: 

Increased Racism: Leaders report an escalation of racism in schools, suggesting the removal of Te Tiriti protections has provided an "opportunity to say things out loud" that diminishes Māori authority. 

Loss of Support Systems: In 2025 and 2026, culturally responsive initiatives like the Māori Education Collaborative (MAC) and Huia Kaimanawa (Principal leadership support) were discontinued, alongside the removal of funding for Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori. 

A "Crisis of Faith": Highly skilled Māori educators are now questioning their place in a system where they feel "unsafe" and must choose between government mandates and what is right for their tamariki. 

Institutional Shift: The removal of Section 127 (1) (d) has stripped schools of formal protection, effectively making Te Tiriti "optional" in the eyes of the law. 

Recommendations for a Path Forward 

To address these grievances, Te Akatea leaders presented the following recommendations to the Tribunal: 

Immediate Reinstatement of Section 127: Return the requirement for School Boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi to remove the "grey area" of accountability. 

Mandatory Engagement: Establish a process requiring the Crown to engage with Māori leadership collectives and iwi before any changes to the Act or Curriculum are proposed. 

Curriculum Protections: Ensure Te Tiriti is protected as a "foundational and directive principle" of the national curriculum to prevent it from becoming a tokenistic "tick-box" exercise. 

Te Akatea maintains that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a "covenant of care and hope" that must remain a central pillar of education to ensure all tamariki are safe in their identity and enabled to thrive. 

About Te Akatea 

Te Akatea is a professional Peak Body representing Māori Principals, leaders and educators across early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. The collective is dedicated to advancing Māori educational success and upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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