A leaked video from inside the Ministry of Education has triggered fresh allegations over how New Zealand’s national curriculum reforms have been developed, with the New Zealand Principals’ Federation raising concerns about transparency and the Official Information Act.
NZPF President Jason Miles says the footage shows internal discussions about curriculum development and alleges officials were directed to avoid recording some information in ways that could later be scrutinised under the Official Information Act. The Federation has described the allegations as evidence of political interference in the curriculum process.
The allegations have not yet been established through an independent investigation. Chief Ombudsman John Allen has separately sought urgent clarification from Secretary for Education Ellen MacGregor-Reid over reports that Ministry staff were encouraged to keep some communications out of writing to avoid OIA scrutiny.
The controversy follows last week’s Waitangi Tribunal findings on the national curriculum reforms, which NZPF says reinforced concerns about the treatment of Māori voices and the process used to develop the changes.
NZPF is now renewing its push for a permanent statutory Curriculum and Assessment Council, arguing curriculum development should operate at greater distance from the government of the day. The Federation says Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and The Opportunity Party have expressed support for its proposal.
Education Minister Erica Stanford has previously defended the Government’s curriculum reforms, saying New Zealand educators were involved in writing the curriculum and rejecting claims that its development was improperly driven by outside interests.
The latest controversy puts transparency, political influence and the place of Māori in curriculum reform back under scrutiny as education becomes an increasingly contested issue ahead of the election.
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