Why We Care About te tiriti & education.
Why We All Should Care About the Government’s Recent Changes to Education Policies.
We believe that in order for Sayso to be a great Aotearoa New Zealand company, we must honour our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the part we play as Tāngata Tiriti – not just in our own mahi, but also as advocates for its significance in our wider communities.
The Sayso whānau opposes the removal of obligations for school boards to consider te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), which the Government has described as "too onerous". We understand that there are plenty of very reasonable people who don’t really get why this is such a big deal, so we thought it would be useful to put together a very straightforward Q&A to explain, from our perspective, why this is something everyone should understand.
Q. Why should any NZ organisation be obligated to consider Te Tiriti in its governance? Isn’t that just a historical relic and/or left-wing dog whistle?
A constitution is a collection of rules that determine how a country’s government can use its power. Unlike some other countries that have a single, written constitution, ours is an unwritten constitution made up of laws, court judgements, conventions and government documents. The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an integral component of Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitution, and establishes a constitutional relationship between Māori (Tangata whenua of this whenua/land) and the Crown.
This means that all Crown-delegated bodies, including state and state-integrated school boards, have a legal and moral responsibility to uphold Te Tiriti principles in their decision-making.
Q. But why do our schools need to dedicate attention to outcomes for Māori students specifically?
It’s all about equality versus equity. For generations, Māori have faced systemic educational disadvantage. When we require school boards to consider Te Tiriti within their policies, resourcing, and teaching practices, we are taking steps to address those long-term inequities.
Q. So it’s just about supporting Māori students and families?
Not at all! A Tiriti-centred approach benefits all learners, not just Māori, by providing them with a deeper understanding of our shared history, a richness through learning about the Māori world view (te ao Māori), learning the original language of this country – te reo Māori – and building a sense of shared belonging.
Q. It all still sounds a bit vague. Are there any practical, tangible benefits to incorporating a Māori view in our schools?
Te Tiriti o Waitangi doesn’t just influence school policies – it also has a real, visible impact on a school’s physical setting. The principles of te ao Māori can help us to create learning spaces and practices that emphasise collaboration, the natural environment, and a sense of place. Isn’t that what we want for our tamariki?
You only need to attend a school assembly, welcoming of new students or staff, or a prizegiving to see the joy, pride and confidence on the faces of the students (Māori and Pākehā) performing karakia, mihi, haka, poi and waiata Māori, and know that this is what makes Aotearoa New Zealand a beautiful place to live.
Q. Yes, that seems totally reasonable. How can I help? Isn’t it already a done deal?
In theory, yes, the obligation for schools to consider Te Tiriti has already been removed. However, over 1800 schools across the motu are making it clear that they will continue to ensure that their plans, policies, and local curriculum reflect local tikanga Māori, te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori (knowledge), and te ao Māori – not just because they are mandated to do so, but because it is the right thing to do.
You can customise the form letter, created by Tania Waikato, and send it to your local schools, requesting that they do the same, if they havn’t already.
You can sign this petition that calls on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Education Erica Stanford to immediately reverse the amendment that removed the requirement for school boards to give effect to the Treaty (edit: the petition was handed in on 8 December 2025)
You can share this blog with your friends, whānau and colleagues so they can also gain a better understanding of the issue.