Position Statements: Education & Training Amendment Bill No.2

PĀNUI PĀPĀHO | STATEMENT

11 WHIRINGA-Ā-RANGI 2025 | 11 November 2025 

Position 1: As Crown entities, school boards have both legal and moral duty to understand

and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Position 2: Strong communities are built through partnership - not by rolling back

commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Position 3: Removing Te Tiriti o Waitangi protections from legislation weakens the Crown’s

commitment to achieving equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori.

Position 4: Iwi and hapū see better outcomes for whānau when Te Tiriti o Waitangi is

understood and lived.

Ends

Media contact

Karetai Williams-Paul | karetai.williams@milg.co.nz  

Note for editors

Mātauranga ILG is one of eight Iwi Leaders Groups (ILGs) within Pou Tangata, responsible for education policy. Pou Tangata is one of the five Pou of the National Iwi Chairs Forum. The Forum exists to advocate and influence priorities of national significance on behalf of collective iwi interests. More information on Pou Tangata can be found here: www.poutangata.com

The Mātauranga ILG aims to improve the education outcomes to support lifelong learning for whānau, and ensure the development of intergenerational capability across iwi, hapū and whānau.

Mātauranga ILG is focused on ensuring ākonga Māori and their whānau are supported by an education system to achieve real, long lasting outcomes.