Public Misled Over “Bi-Lingual Tai Tokerau Nation” Document

“Statements by the project manager of a trust contracted by the Ministry of Education to solve educational problems in Northland are untruthful,” claims New Zealand First Education Spokesperson, Hon Brian Donnelly.

New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, claimed in the House that the group had as its objective the establishment of a “bi-lingual Tai Tokerau nation” and “Maori authority in all aspects of education.”

The project manager alleged that the references upon which the claims were being made had been put in a “draft questionnaire by mistake.” The Minister of Education, Hon Trevor Mallard, had also made comments about it being a draft document.

Ministry of Education papers now reveal that the expressions Mr Peters had raised concerns about had been used in community surveys distributed to 21 of the 77 school communities in the Far North.

“To claim that a survey which had been distributed to almost 30% of affected schools is a draft is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to pull wool over the eyes of the public. The public which is funding this project to the tune of over half a million dollars up to this stage has a right to know the truth, said Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

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