Today, education and iwi leaders from across Aotearoa will gather in Wellington for a landmark summit focused on the future of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in education.
The event, hosted by Te Akatea NZ Māori Principals’ Association, comes amid growing concern from educators about recent government policy changes that many believe weaken the role of Te Tiriti in classrooms, kura, and universities.
Responding to Policy Shifts
Te Akatea CEO Bruce Jepsen, a former school principal, says the summit is about turning concern into action:
“For 50 years, educators have worked to bring Te Tiriti to life in classrooms and communities. In just a short time, government decisions have undermined this work and the progress made. This summit is about standing together and moving forward.”
The changes sparking alarm include the removal of te reo Māori from early readers, cuts to Māori resource teachers, sidelining Te Tiriti in the Education and Training Act, and removing requirements for early childhood centres to recognise mana whenua. Educators also point to the scrapping of National Education Learning Priorities and the downgrading of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori in the curriculum.
Jepsen says teachers and leaders—both Māori and non-Māori—are worried, frustrated, and determined to respond.
A Sector-Led Path Forward
Rather than waiting for government consultation, the summit will provide a space for iwi leaders and educators to develop their own sector-driven solutions.
“This is about using our combined kete to protect and advance Te Tiriti in education,” Jepsen explains. “We’ll leave with a clear action plan that kura, schools, and tertiary institutions can take back to their communities.”
Who’s Attending
The summit, Te Akapūmau, will bring together key voices in education, including:
- Bruce Jepsen (Te Akatea CEO)
- Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith
- Ripeka Lessels (NZEI President)
- Louise Anaru (SPANZ President)
- Chris Abercrombie (PPTA President)
- Claire Amos (Aotearoa Educators Collective)
Keynote speakers include Tina Ngata and former Minister Chris Finlayson. The summit will also launch a new report, Equity, Where is it?, prepared by Huia Kaimanawa for the Ministry of Education, highlighting the realities of equity—or its absence—within the education system.
Continuing the Work of Generations
For decades, teachers and principals have embedded Te Tiriti values into daily practice—through pūrākau, waiata, te reo Māori, and teaching local histories. The summit aims to ensure this legacy is not lost but strengthened for future generations.
As Jepsen puts it: “If the government won’t create space for these conversations, then we’ll make our own. Our tamariki deserve nothing less.”
