Waitangi Tribunal recommends restoration of Treaty obligations in schools following report

The Waitangi Tribunal has released a report on Friday calling for the Crown to restore explicit statutory obligations for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The report, which is the third in a series examining changes to the education sector, addresses the November 2025 removal of section 127(1)(d) from the Education and Training Act 2020. Presiding Officer Rachel Mullins stated that the decision to remove the provision was made abruptly and unilaterally, recommending a formal apology and the reinstatement of the obligations in their entirety. Despite the removal of the legislative requirement, the report highlights a strong commitment to Treaty principles within the education community. PPTA Te Wehengarua Māori vice president Te Aomihia Taua-Glassie noted that more than 1,800 schools across Aotearoa have stood together, pledging to continue weaving te reo Māori, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori into their school life regardless of the law change. Taua-Glassie described the Tribunal’s findings as affirming for those schools that have been working to uphold the aspirations of ākonga Māori. Education Minister Erica Stanford responded to the findings, stating that the government remains committed to its Treaty obligations by focusing on Article 3 and ensuring Māori students have equitable opportunities to succeed. She noted that school boards are still expected to be culturally responsive and provide instruction in tikanga and te reo Māori. However, the Tribunal recommended that the Crown work directly with Māori in the education sector to determine how to reinstate the former statutory provisions while preserving their full substance. The report suggests that restoring these specific obligations is essential to avoid sending incorrect signals regarding the importance of the Treaty in the daily operations of New Zealand schools.