Equal Treatment Bill: A Threat to Freedom, Equity and Māori Rights
The Education and Training (Equal Treatment) Amendment Bill, introduced by Dr Parmjeet Parmar of the ACT Party.
By Dr Harpreet Singh | drhsinghnz.substack.com | FB: @DrHSinghNZ
This article responds to ACT MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar’s remarks during the Q+A segment with Jack Tame on 12 October 2025, where she discussed the Education and Training (Equal Treatment) Amendment Bill. It is available for free online.
The Education and Training (Equal Treatment) Amendment Bill, introduced by Dr Parmjeet Parmar of the ACT Party, is not just another piece of legislation. It is a radical attempt to reshape the values of New Zealand’s education system. While its supporters claim it promotes fairness, critics warn it is a calculated strike against university autonomy, equity initiatives, and the rights guaranteed to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Status of the Bill
This is a member’s bill, meaning it is not yet law. It has not passed any stage in Parliament and will only proceed if drawn from the ballot or supported by the House.
What the Bill Targets
The bill proposes inserting a new section 282A into the Education and Training Act 2020. This section would prohibit tertiary institutions from offering scholarships, spaces, or opportunities based on race or ethnicity. It would dismantle cultural support programmes that have long helped Māori and Pasifika students overcome systemic barriers. In short, it aims to erase decades of progress toward inclusive education.
Why Critics Call It Harmful
Universities have historically enjoyed the freedom to design policies that reflect their communities. This bill tears that freedom away, imposing government control over internal decisions and setting a dangerous precedent for political interference in academic life. It is not about fairness; it is about centralising power and silencing diversity.
The consequences for equity are severe. Race-based scholarships and cultural spaces exist because Māori and Pasifika students face entrenched disadvantages. Removing these measures will widen achievement gaps, marginalise underrepresented groups, and reinforce structural inequality. Far from levelling the playing field, this bill tilts it sharply against those who need support the most.
The conflict with Te Tiriti o Waitangi is undeniable. The Education and Training Act requires institutions to give effect to the Treaty by supporting Māori learners and tikanga Māori. This bill undermines those obligations, weakening the Crown’s commitment to Māori educational success and eroding the principles of partnership and protection.
Academic freedom is also at risk. By targeting race-based initiatives, the bill sends a chilling message about cultural and Treaty-related content. It could discourage universities from offering courses or spaces that foster dialogue on equity and indigenous rights, narrowing the intellectual landscape and silencing critical voices.
Broader Implications
The bill aligns with ACT’s push for a “colour-blind” public service, but that rhetoric masks a dangerous reality: ignoring history and structural inequities does not create fairness; it entrenches privilege. If passed, this legislation will reshape higher education into a system that prizes uniformity over diversity and meritocracy over justice.
Far from promoting equality, the Education and Training (Equal Treatment) Amendment Bill threatens to dismantle the foundations of inclusive education. It challenges autonomy, equity, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, raising urgent questions about whether New Zealand will honour its commitments or retreat into a narrow, one-size-fits-all vision of learning.