Several Northland iwi – notably Ngāti Hine and hapū Te Kapotai – have filed an urgent claim with the Waitangi Tribunal after recent amendments to the law removed the requirement for school boards to “give effect to” the Treaty of Waitangi.
According to the claimants’ statement of claim, filed 19 November 2025, the combination of legislative change and a major curriculum rewrite undermines fundamental principles of Māori rangatiratanga (self-determination), partnership, and equity in education. They warn the changes risk causing “significant and irreversible prejudice” to Māori learners, whānau, hapū and iwi if allowed to proceed unchecked.
In November 2025, the government passed the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (No 2), which repealed the clause obligating school boards to structure governance, curriculum and school plans around the Treaty.
Under the previous law, schools were required to integrate tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori into their strategic planning, offer instruction in te reo Māori or tikanga Māori where possible, and work to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori students.
The government has stated that Treaty obligations remain the Crown’s responsibility rather than the domain of volunteer boards – and that schools may still choose to uphold Treaty values voluntarily. Critics argue this legal shift weakens the guarantees for Māori learners across the country.
Since the law change was passed, a cascade of responses – formal, grassroots and legal – has emerged:
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Over 1000 schools across the motu have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to honouring the Treaty in their policies and curricula – despite the repeal.
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A coalition of national education organisations – including NZEI Te Riu Roa, school-board groups, principals’ associations, and iwi chairs – have issued calls for the changes to be reversed. Many describe the repeal as “ideological,” threatening to reverse decades of progress toward a culturally responsive and equitable education system.
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Educators and parents have expressed concern: some Māori students reportedly fear for the future of kapa haka, te reo, or culturally grounded schooling – while others mark the shift as a broader attack on Māori identity and equity in Aotearoa.
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For iwi and hapū like Ngāti Hine and Te Kapotai, the urgency stems from a belief the changes threaten not only educational outcomes, but Māori self-determination, identity, and the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty.
By filing for an urgent inquiry, the iwi aim to:
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Have the Tribunal examine whether the legislative amendment breaches obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
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Seek a stop to the repeal’s implementation – so the 2026-2027 school year begins with Treaty-based obligations intact.
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Protect Māori learners’ rights to equitable, culturally grounded education, including access to te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and curricula that reflect Māori worldviews and histories.
They argue that without legal protection, varied decisions by individual school boards – subject to political or social pressure – will result in inequitable outcomes for Māori students nationwide.
This clash over Treaty obligations in schools comes at a time of broader debate over the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in New Zealand law and public institutions. Many view the repeal as part of a pattern of legislative changes that the government argues modernise the education system – while critics see it as erasing Māori rights and identity.
Supporters of the repeal point to the government’s promise that schools can still voluntarily uphold Treaty values and cultural inclusion.
But for many Māori communities – and the over 1000 schools that have publicly reaffirmed their support – voluntary status is not enough. They argue legal certainty is essential to protect generations of Māori tamariki from cultural invisibility, systemic inequity, and marginalisation.
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The Waitangi Tribunal must decide whether to grant urgency to the claim – a decision that will shape the timeline and potential for a binding ruling.
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If the Tribunal proceeds, it may recommend the repeal be reversed, or that new statutory protections be inserted to safeguard Māori language, culture, and equity in education.
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Meanwhile, thousands of schools may continue to uphold Treaty commitments – creating a de facto “dual system” where some boards embed Treaty values, others do not. This could lead to significant inequities across regions, deciles, and school communities.
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Public pressure, community advocacy, and media coverage – including from educators, parents, iwi, and Māori organisations – may shape political responses ahead of future legislative reviews or elections.
The urgent Tribunal claim filed by Ngāti Hine, Te Kapotai and other iwi – and the widespread reaffirmation of Treaty commitment by schools – signal that many in Aotearoa regard the 2025 education law changes not as administrative adjustments, but as a wider challenge to Māori rights, identity, and equity.
What happens next will shape not only school governance and curriculum – but the future of Te Tiriti in New Zealand’s public life. For Māori students and their whānau, these are not abstract debates, but foundational questions about belonging, representation, and justice.
As communities, educators, and iwi wait for the Tribunal’s decision, one thing is clear: the fight to honour Te Tiriti – in classrooms as well as boardrooms – is far from over.
