Kia ora e te whānau,
It was recently announced that school boards will no longer be legislatively required to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Right now, every school board has a legal duty to ensure their local curriculum reflects Te Tiriti, including local tikanga Māori (customs and processes), mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and te ao Māori (wider Māori world). With the repeal of this legislation, the requirement of honouring Te Tiriti in schools will sit directly with the Crown, rather than with school boards.
Amesbury School Board is strongly committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, not because we are required to do so through legislation, but because it is the right thing to do. As a board, we have sent a letter to our Education Minister and to the Secretary for Education, outlining our commitment to Te Tiriti. Ngāti Toa stands in partnership with us, and they support our letter and our ongoing connection. We have also signed the nationwide petition asking Prime Minister Luxon and Education Minister Stanford to keep the honouring of Te Tiriti in our Education and Training Act, thereby requiring all school boards to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their schools. Here is the petition; please feel free to sign it and pass it on to whānau (family) and friends.
Here is the letter we have sent, which outlines our position as the school board of Amesbury School.
Amesbury School Board’s Ongoing Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Dear Minister Stanford,
We are writing to you today as the School Board for Amesbury School to formally affirm our unwavering commitment to honouring and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We acknowledge the recent discussions and legislative changes at a national level regarding requirements for schools in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
In light of this, we wish to state clearly that our board’s dedication to this commitment is not dependent on legislative requirements. We will continue to recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand and as a cornerstone of our country's identity. We maintain a strong and ongoing relationship with Ngāti Toa, mana whenua for our local area, and honouring Te Tiriti is central to this.
For us at Amesbury School, this is a moral and ethical responsibility that is integral to our school's vision and values. We firmly believe that upholding the principles of Te Tiriti—partnership, protection, and participation—is essential for fostering an inclusive, equitable, and culturally sustaining learning environment for all our ākonga.
Therefore, the Amesbury School Board confirms that we will continue to:
Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles in our governance and decision-making.
Ensure that our school's strategic and annual plans meaningfully reflect our commitment to Te Tiriti.
Maintain an ongoing and honouring partnership with Ngāti Toa, mana whenua for our school.
Support our school leadership and staff in giving effect to this commitment in the daily life of the school, through our curriculum, and in our engagement with whānau and iwi.
We are advising you of our position as we believe it is important to be transparent about the values that guide our school's governance.
We look forward to a constructive working relationship with you and the Ministry of Education.
Ngā mihi nui,
Urs Cunningham, on behalf of the Amesbury School Board
