Nicola Willis said teaching te reo Māori was protected by law. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has dismissed claims axing school boards' obligation to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi will have an adverse impact on students.
Debating the issue on Morning Report's weekly political panel, Willis said introducing Treaty of Waitangi obligations for school boards did not deliver any meaningful change for Māori students.
"I think it would be a real stretch to say that when the last government put the Treaty of Waitangi into the boards' responsibilities back in 2020, that we saw any meaningful, practical change for Māori students."
Speaking on the panel with Labour's Carmel Sepuloni, Willis was critical of the last government.
"Your Treaty of Waitangi clause may have been a virtue signal that made you feel good, but it made not an iota of difference for the kids whose learning we're focused on."
Sepuloni responded, saying the decision "makes no sense".
"I don't think that they've produced any evidence to show that it was counter-productive to supporting our young people with their educational achievement.
"There's a general recognition and respect for Te Tiriti, we know that it has practical implications and that should apply to our education system, particularly given the inequities we are seeing for Māori children in education."
Labour's Carmel Sepuloni said the decision makes no sense. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation, Leanne Otene, told Morning Report removing Treaty obligations from school board responsibilities was out of step with society, and was concerned about "extremist groups" putting pressure on principals.
"You have the possibility of extremist groups putting pressure on schools not to implement, not to teach the language, the history. And you know, for our young people, and our Māori children, automatically should not be asking to learn about their culture, to hear their language or to have it represented in their curriculum."
Willis dismissed these concerns, and said teaching te reo Māori was protected by law.
"It's there in law, they have to provide teaching and learning in te reo Māori."
President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation Leanne Otene is concerned about extremist groups. Photo: Supplied
Willis said the obligations that sit with schools were to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students, provide teaching and learning in te reo Māori, and to ensure the schools policies and practices reflect New Zealand's cultural diversity.
"When you're a volunteer on your school board and you're trying to ensure your kids can read, write and do maths are progressing. That's what we want school boards focused on, not interpreting nebulous concepts which actually sit with the government."
Sepuloni called the changes "the tail wagging the dog again, with David Seymour and the ACT Party calling the shots."
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