Mayor of Wellington Tory Whanau has written a letter of complaint to the Prime Minister regarding David Seymour’s behaviour.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau formally expressed concern to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, urging government intervention following a series of public attacks by ACT Party leader and Deputy PM David Seymour against academic critics.
Seymour has repeatedly criticized universities and academics-particularly those involved in Treaty of Waitangi education-as engaging in “indoctrination” and pushing a one-sided ideological agenda. Most notably, he targeted the University of Auckland’s compulsory Treaty course (Waipapa Taumata Rau), stating it’s a “perversion of academic freedom” and that students report feeling “indoctrinated”
In May, Mayor Whanau wrote to PM Luxon, warning that Seymour’s combative approach toward academic institutions and Māori-centred curricula risks damaging New Zealand’s reputation for robust, independent tertiary teaching-and could undermine public trust in local government collaboration with universities.
She flagged Seymour’s remarks as part of an emerging “culture war” in politics, where public servants and academic staff are increasingly attacked for upholding Treaty-based education.
- Academics responded with concern. A University of Auckland spokesperson noted that Treaty literacy is essential for understanding New Zealand’s history and social fabric-arguing it’s “bare minimum” for tertiary education.
“If you’re gonna study in New Zealand you need to suck it up and learn about the culture… You are studying on stolen land. You owe an amount of respect.”
- Whānau-led groups and mātauranga Māori advocates have joined the chorus, warning that undermining Treaty education equates to eroding progress made in bicultural education and Treaty partnership.
