Teachers across Aotearoa are raising serious concerns about proposed changes to the national school curriculum, warning the Treaty of Waitangi is being sidelined.
Submissions to the Waitangi Tribunal reveal strong criticism of the draft curriculum, with educators describing parts of it as “badly written” and lacking accuracy – particularly in how it reflects Aotearoa history and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The backlash centres on what teachers say is a noticeable reduction in the influence of the Treaty within curriculum content, alongside wider government moves to weaken legal obligations for schools to give effect to Te Tiriti.
Education sector groups, including the primary teachers’ union, argue the changes risk harming Māori learners and undermining the partnership principles that underpin the education system.
The New Zealand Māori Council has also weighed in, warning that stripping back Treaty references could damage outcomes for Māori students and deprive all learners of an education grounded in the realities of Aotearoa.
The draft curriculum is part of a wider overhaul of schooling content set to roll out between 2026 and 2028. While the Government says the changes aim to create a more consistent, knowledge-rich system, critics say the speed and direction of reform is leaving teachers concerned and Māori perspectives at risk of being marginalised.
The Waitangi Tribunal is currently considering urgent claims on the issue, with calls for the Government to pause the reforms and engage more meaningfully with Māori communities before final decisions are made.
For Radio Waatea, this is a developing story at the heart of education, identity, and Te Tiriti – and how future generations will understand both.
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