More than 1000 schools across Aotearoa have now publicly reaffirmed their commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, despite the Government’s move to remove school boards’ Treaty obligation from the Education and Training Act.
As of 21 November, 1007 schools have joined Te Rārangi Rangatira, a rapidly growing list of formal commitments from boards, kura, and principals’ associations nationwide. The statements are being collated and shared publicly by lawyer Tania Waikato, who says the surge represents a clear show of unity, according to Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ.
“Everything this government is doing to try and remove Te Tiriti from that conversation is being resisted,” she said, describing the response as a “grassroots backlash” and “a wonderful expression of kotahitanga”.
Waikato likened the wave of statements to the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti, saying schools are standing firmly against claims the country is divided on Treaty issues, as reported by Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ.
“The vast majority of people want to get on with teaching the children and ensuring that they have a good education system to do that in,” she said, RNZ quoted.
Waikato said the letters arriving daily reflect deep pride in the relationships kura have built with mana whenua and the work done to embed Te Tiriti principles in local curricula. Schools also frequently describe Te Tiriti as a “founding constitutional document”, essential to grounding teaching frameworks in Aotearoa’s history, Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ reported.
She warned that removing the statutory requirement risks “undermining equity and clarity” for whānau.
“What the schools are saying is: too bad. We’re going to continue anyway.”
Government responds
Associate Education Minister David Seymour rejected suggestions that the Government is restricting schools, saying boards are still free to teach Te Tiriti.
“I have some disappointing news for them. They’re not rebelling against the evil government because Parliament hasn’t banned them from teaching about the Treaty,” he said, adding that schools must ensure policies reflect cultural diversity, and that academic achievement remains the paramount goal, Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ reported.
Seymour also criticised what he called the “intolerant, bullying tone” of some statements, but Waikato said his comments show he is “out of touch”.
“Some of the schools on the list are among the largest in the country… It’s offensive to imply they don’t matter,” Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ reported.
Principals’ association joins opposition
The Auckland Primary Principals’ Association (APPA), representing 428 principals, is among the rōpū issuing formal objections to the legislative change.
“Te Tiriti is not an optional extra. It is our foundation constitutional document,” the association said, warning that removing the obligation creates inconsistency and allows reluctant schools to step away from important commitments, as reported by Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ.
They called on the Minister to reverse the amendment, arguing that legislation sets expectations, protects progress, and guarantees equity across the motu.
Minister stands by legislative shift
Education Minister Erica Stanford, in an email to the sector, stated that the Government’s top priority is to lift educational achievement, and that school boards should not be held legally responsible for implementing the Treaty.
She maintained that the Crown remains accountable for Treaty commitments and said boards will instead be required to focus on equitable outcomes for Māori learners, access to te reo Māori, and culturally diverse policies.
“We’re raising Māori achievement, which is a core tenet of our Treaty obligation,” she said, as quoted by Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ.
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