Schools Take a Stand: Te Tiriti Lives Beyond Politics

Te Rārangi Rangatira. The Petition Uniting New Zealand.

By Dr Harpreet Singh | drhsinghnz.substack.com | FB: @DrHSinghNZ

Author’s Note: This stand does not exist without Tania Waikato, whose leadership turns concern into action. Her fight reflects the enduring strength of Māori commitment to Te Tiriti, whether opposing the Treaty Principles Bill, defending Māori wards, or protecting Treaty obligations in education. It also reflects the courage of non-Māori allies who stand shoulder to shoulder, affirming that partnership is not a Māori issue alone but a national promise. To every school and whānau who stand firm: your pledge is more than policy. It is a promise that justice and unity outlast politics.

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As of late November 2025, over 1,500 schools are pledging to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, despite the government removing the legal requirement from the Education and Training Act. This grassroots initiative, known as Te Rārangi Rangatira, is becoming a defining moment in the country’s constitutional and cultural history.

A Nation at a Crossroads

On 18 November 2025, the Education and Training Amendment Act comes into effect, deleting the explicit duty for school boards to “give effect to Te Tiriti.” The coalition government frames the change as streamlining governance and relocating Treaty responsibility to the Crown. Within days, boards began publishing commitments to continue honouring Te Tiriti, and the rolling list has grown from 1,007 pledges to well over 1,300 by the end of November, with more joining daily.

The Organiser

Tania Waikato, a Māori lawyer, began compiling school statements as they arrived. She characterises the movement as community-led, not orchestrated: “Everything this government is doing to try and remove Te Tiriti from that conversation is being resisted. It’s totally organic. It is a wonderful expression of kotahitanga.” Waikato’s daily updates served as the public ledger of school intent and resolve, giving visibility to local relationships with mana whenua and Māori-medium practice in classrooms and governance.

Ministers and Parties in the Frame

Education Minister Erica Stanford defended the removal as administrative, while Associate Minister David Seymour argued against compulsory cultural elements. Both positions drew sharp criticism as pledges mount. National and ACT faced scrutiny for enabling the change, while NZ First kept its distance. Sector leaders, including the Auckland Primary Principals’ Association, declared “Te Tiriti is not an optional extra,” underscoring widespread resistance.

Scale and Significance

New Zealand has about 2500 public schools. With more than 1,500 public commitments, roughly 60% of public schools formally declared their intention to continue giving effect to Te Tiriti. The breadth and speed of this pledge wave are unprecedented for the sector and for the nation.

Political Fallout

The petition is shaking the coalition’s education agenda. Stanford’s claim of “administrative change” rings hollow as boards frame Te Tiriti as foundational to equity and belonging. Seymour’s stance deepens perceptions of cultural insensitivity. National struggles to balance coalition politics against sector legitimacy. Confidence in the reforms is eroding fast, creating serious reputational risk with voters.

What the Schools Are Saying

Boards speak with clarity. Honouring Te Tiriti is about constitutional duty and student wellbeing. A Southland board writes: “Honouring Te Tiriti anchors inclusive culture and lifts achievement.” A Hutt Valley school calls it “educational and civic responsibility.” Principals in Dunedin call it a “moral imperative.”
These are not slogans. They are governance choices woven into daily practice: strategic plans, te reo pathways, local histories, and mana whenua relationships that make the Treaty live in classrooms.

Why It Matters

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the constitutional backbone of Aotearoa. The government’s attempt to sideline it for political convenience is a direct challenge to that foundation. Schools are answering. Justice, equity and belonging are not optional. Over 1,500 pledges and counting prove it.

This matters because it redefines leadership. When the Crown retreats, communities lead. Te Rārangi Rangatira shows that any reform undermining Te Tiriti will meet organised, principled resistance. The Treaty is not a Māori issue. It is a national promise. And schools are defending that promise, even when the government does not.