Source: Radio New Zealand
Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group Chair Rāhui Papa presents a 24,000 strong petition calling for the immediate reversal of the amendment that removed school boards’ requirement to give effect to te Tiriti to Minister of Education Erica Stanford. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
The National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) has delivered a 24,000 strong petition into the hands of the Minister of Education calling for the immediate reversal of the amendment that removed school boards’ requirement to give effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Minister of Education Minister Erica Stanford met with the NICF outside Parliament alongside MPs from other parties, where she accepted the petition with its 24,001 signatures.
Rāhui Papa is chair of the Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group, the education arm of the National Iwi Chairs Forum. He told RNZ his group stood in solidarity with the many boards, teachers and students who backed the petition.
“From my viewpoint, any government should take the pulse of their people and should actually turn around and listen to their people when they see that it’s rubbing up against the consciousness of our own country.”
Papa said there needed to be a “resetting”.
“There needs to be reinstatement or absolutely making sure that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is in its highest form in any legislation,” he said.
Minister of Education Minister Erica Stanford meet with the NICF. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
Papa hit back at previous statements made by the minister, who said she had heard from some principals who felt the were being pressured to sign the statements of support for Te Tiriti.
“The messages that we have been receiving is that this has been something that is near and dear to the hearts of their BOT (Board of Trustees), of their communities and of their school system within their own school. This is something that has been a progress by them, on their own,” he said.
“Sure, schools could have opted not to be part of it, and some of them may have. But with over 60 percent of schools voluntarily signing up and voluntarily sending open letters for everyone to view and to peruse – that is just magnificent in itself.”
After receiving the petition Stanford told the crowd the government shares many of the same aspirations for tamariki Māori with the NICF. There were scattered boos from the crowd as she delivered her speech.
“To make sure that no matter what we’re resourcing, not matter what our policies are, that we are providing resources in te reo Māori, that we’re providing professional learning and development to kaiako, and that our laser focus is on raising achievement,” she said.
Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group Chair Rāhui Papa presents a 24,000 strong petition calling for the immediate reversal of the amendment that removed school boards’ requirement to give effect to te Tiriti to Minister of Education Erica Stanford. RNZ / Pokere Paewai
The importance of the Treaty of Waitangi in the Education Act has never been in question, she said.
Stanford said she was hopeful that the government and the NICF can work more closely together to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori.
“At the heart of all of this is tamariki Māori, doing right by them, making sure that they meet all of their future aspirations and they can go on to live the life they want.”
Labour Spokesperson for Education Willow-Jean Prime said the minister still isn’t listening to what the iwi, boards of trustees and schools are saying.
“The minister on the one hand saying she wants to continue to work with Māori on all of the things that are important for Māori education, yet here receiving a petition for an example of where she did not consult Māori, even though she was advised to.”
Prime said the petition and the more than 1600 schools who have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to Te Tiriti have sent a strong message to the minister.
NZEI Te Riu Roa president Ripeka Lessels was at Parliament to support the petition, she told RNZ that Te Tiriti o Waitangi and student achievement are not exclusive.
“You can have both, you can have Te Tiriti o Waitangi and give obligations to it, and still have student achievement. We already know that, we know that from Kura Kaupapa, we know that from Kura ā iwi. It can work and it does happen.”
Upholding Te Tiriti is crucial for creating truly equitable and inclusive schools where every tamariki can succeed, and the union will continue to fiercely advocate for it, she said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
