The Rolleston College – Horoeka Haemata Board of Trustees knows some whānau may have questions about the Ministry’s change to remove the legal duty for Boards to ‘give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi’ within the Education Act. We want to provide clear reassurance about what this means for our school.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational to Aotearoa New Zealand and central to the role of every state school as a Crown entity. The current Treaty clause supports schools to embed local tikanga, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori in curriculum and planning; provide access to te reo Māori; develop culturally responsive practices; and uphold equitable outcomes for Māori learners. These expectations are not unreasonable or confusing—they are essential to building belonging, trust, and success for all ākonga. Doing so does not stop our focus being on academic achievement, in fact it means greater success for all learners.

Our gifted name Horoeka Haemata—the flourishing lancewood—speaks of the journey that we are privileged to walk with our ākonga and whānau over their five years with us. In order for every learner to flourish they need to feel a sense of belonging to our school and our commitment to Te Tiriti is an essential part of this for our Māori ākonga.

We believe in the importance of our relationship with Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, our local rūnanga, in terms of guiding the success of our Māori learners. Implementing culturally responsive practices designed to support Māori students ultimately benefits all students. As a relatively new school in the takiwā we still have much to understand and achieve in this area. We have come a long way and wish to continue to commit to this path. The values of our local area adorn the wall of our school but in order to fully embrace them we must also honour and live them.

As Crown entities we have a responsibility to honour the principles of partnership, protection, and participation. Regardless of legislative change, our commitments remain firm:

• Partnership: We will continue to work authentically with Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and with whānau to ensure their voices shape decision-making.

• Protection: We will continue to uphold and strengthen opportunities for te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and mātauranga Māori across our kura. Our journey towards Reo Rua is only beginning and this is a proud pou for us as a school as we move into the future.

• Participation: We remain committed to equitable outcomes and strong pathways for Māori learners to thrive. We seek to create a school environment where all cultures are celebrated, and te ao Māori is visible and valued.

Schools are cornerstones of the community in which the aspirations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are lived. Our tamariki Māori have the right to see their culture, language, and history reflected in their learning. All learners benefit from an education grounded in truth, equity, and partnership and understanding of the cultural context in which we live.

The Rolleston College Board reaffirms Te Tiriti o Waitangi will continue to guide our governance, our culture, and our future—regardless of changes to the Act.