One of Aotearoa’s largest education unions is backing an urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim challenging Government proposals to weaken Te Tiriti o Waitangi provisions in education legislation, warning the changes could harm outcomes for ākonga Māori and undermine Māori-Crown relationships.
NZEI Te Riu Roa has joined four claimant groups seeking urgent intervention from the Waitangi Tribunal over proposed legislation that would repeal or downgrade Te Tiriti clauses across multiple laws, including provisions affecting the education sector.
The union argues that recent Government reforms have reduced legal obligations for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and have proceeded without adequate engagement with Māori communities or the wider education sector.
The dispute centres on changes to the Education and Training Act, curriculum reforms, and broader plans to standardise Treaty clauses across legislation. Critics say the proposed approach lowers the status of Te Tiriti within education and risks weakening protections for te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori in schools.
NZEI Te Riu Roa says the changes could have long-term consequences for Māori learners by reducing accountability mechanisms that help ensure schools recognise and respond to the needs of Māori students. The union maintains that honouring Te Tiriti is fundamental to achieving equitable educational outcomes and supporting cultural identity within the classroom.
The Waitangi Tribunal has already granted urgency to related claims brought by NZEI Te Riu Roa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine and Te Kapotai, finding there was potential for significant prejudice to Māori if the issues were not examined promptly.
Earlier this year, the Tribunal issued findings critical of the Crown’s consultation process, recommending the Government halt further legislative changes and undertake meaningful engagement with Māori before proceeding.
The latest claim comes amid wider debate over Government plans to review and amend Treaty-related provisions across a range of statutes as part of ongoing coalition commitments.
For educators and Māori advocates, the issue extends beyond legislation, touching on the future of Māori success in education, the protection of indigenous knowledge, and the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
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