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A leading Māori educationalist says Simon Bridges’ reason for not including Māori among submitters to his Epidemic Response Committee isn’t good enough.
Whetu Cormick, the immediate past president of the Principal’s Federation, says this week’s hearing of the committee on school reopening should have heard from roopu like kura kaupapa and the Māori Principals’ Federation.
The statement by the Opposition leader that he focused on organisations that were critical to the industries presenting was disappointing.
“It says everything perhaps about that individual. His views on who is important in this motu. You know we have a treaty and we have an education system that needs to do better. All parties, irrespective of their political bent, need to be focused that actually there is a critical mass of people in our country and that is Māori,” he says.
Whetu Cormick says actions taken by Māori through the lockdown have highlighted the importance of protecting whakapapa and the health of all in the community, and that is likely to be the perspective the committee would have heard rather than a drive to get everything reopened.
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