19729 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister of Education

Written Question

Published date: 04 Jun 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	19729 (2026)
Question asked:	19 May 2026
Member asking:	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Portfolio:	Minister of Education
Minister replying:	Hon Erica Stanford
Answer received:	28 May 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_19729_2026
Document guid:	1994c977-0038-411a-b7eb-61e791f99a0e

19729 (2026). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister of Education: Can the Minister confirm whether she followed the Ministry of Education's advice to consult Māori before removing the Treaty clause obligations from schools and, if not, why not?

Hon Erica Stanford: No. This was a Cabinet decision to clarify that the Treaty duty sits between the Crown and iwi Māori, not with school boards, which are legally separate from the Crown.