Treaty requirement that Education Minister said ‘didn’t make any difference’ being removed for schools

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

The government plans to reduce the teaching council’s authority and remove the Treaty of Waitangi clause from education law, prompting backlash from unions and school boards who say it undermines professionalism and diversity in education.

The Government is to remove the requirement, in place since 2020, for school boards to give effect the Treaty of Waitangi, with Education Minister Erica Stanford saying “it certainly didn’t make any difference” to student achievement.

“Just putting some words that are relatively difficult to interpret onto a school board isn’t going to make any difference, and we’ve seen that,” Stanford told Newstalk ZB on Tuesday morning.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the decision was a “victory for (lobby group) Hobson’s Pledge”, which earlier this year put pressure on Stanford to remove the clause.

“It’s a step backwards for our education system,” Hipkins told Herald NOW.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the requirement was ‘relatively difficult to interpret’ (file pic)

Stanford said she was “not entirely certain” what boards were supposed to do to give effect to the Treaty.

“There were some things that the board were told they had to do, and we’ve clarified those,” she said on Newstalk ZB.

“You must work to raise Māori achievement and ensure equitable outcomes. You must teach Te Reo Māori in your school for those who ask for it, and you must be culturally competent to the needs of your students in the school.

Math and arts experts have called the rewrite 'more political than educational,' citing flaws and too many learning objectives, despite Stanford's claim it will close the equity gap.

“Those things are very important, but they are very clear and they tell a board exactly what to do.

“But just a vague statement that is conferring a Treaty duty from the Crown, where it rightfully sits, to a board of trustees of volunteer, well-meaning parents is not reasonable.”

School boards needed to be focused on raising achievement, getting kids to school, keeping them safe, Stanford said.

The Crown had an obligation to the Treaty of Waitangi to ensure it was providing good education with good outcomes, and was protecting Te Reo Māori.

Stanford was also asked about concerns about curriculum changes announced last week.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said removing the Treaty requirement was a ‘victory for Hobson’s Pledge’. (file pic)

“You teach to the age of the child, right,” she said.

She gave as an example the science curriculum that will include lessons about bees dancing, - something discovered by Austrian scientist Karl von Frisch.

The Goverrnment is removing the requirement that school boards give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi.

“You’re not expecting 5-year-olds to remember his name. Gosh, I can’t even remember it,” Stanford said.

“But, how interesting is it that bees dance. That’s how they communicate to each other. I mean, it’s fascinating,” she said.

“You’ve got the left and the unions saying, don’t teach kids facts because it stifles creativity.

“You can’t be creative, and you can’t think critically, you can’t problem solve if you don’t have a base of knowledge and facts, and know how to use those facts and when to use them,” Stanford said.