Summarised by Centrist
The phrase “tip of the iceberg” captures Graham Adams’ central argument. Auckland University’s move to make compulsory undergraduate Waipapa Taumata Rau courses- which include teachings on the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Ao Māori- is only the visible part of a much deeper problem.
Adams describes this as the university’s broader ideological capture across its governance, teaching, and policy framework.
Adams writes that while the Senate votes to make the courses optional, students are expected to be “conversant with mātauranga Māori, kaupapa Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi” and to “advocate for just and equitable societies.” In contrast, critical thinking appears fourth on the list, behind knowledge of Te Ao Māori and “different knowledge systems.”
He contrasts science’s universal, empirical approach with mātauranga Māori’s localised, spiritual framework, arguing that the university’s insistence on treating them as equal represents an anti-intellectual turn.
Adams also warns, “If the public comes to realise just how determined the university is to normalise radical interpretations of the Treaty and sacralise Te Ao Māori and mātauranga Māori among students who will go on to form the most influential echelons of society, expect to hear increasingly loud calls for its funding to be slashed.”
He cites an AUSA survey that found only 35 per cent satisfaction with the compulsory courses, while a petition opposing them drew more than 1,700 signatures. Even so, he argues that the Senate’s vote is best viewed as a tactical retreat by academics sensing “the cold winds of change” and seeking to protect their credibility and careers.
