Summarised by Centrist
National MP Sam Uffindell says unions are pressuring principals and school boards to sign political statements opposing the government’s changes to education law.
His comments follow Labour and Green criticism of the coalition’s decision to repeal section 127 of the Education Amendment Bill (No 2), which had required schools to “give effect” to the Treaty of Waitangi.
According to Uffindell, educators are facing direct lobbying to publicly reject the repeal. “Unions are standing over principals and school boards pressuring them to sign their anti-govt pledge. Frankly disgusting,” he wrote.
Hobson’s Pledge says more than 1,000 school boards have signalled they will continue applying Treaty obligations in governance and teaching despite the law change.
The organisation argues this places political activism ahead of learning outcomes and puts pressure on volunteer board members. It claims parents have been contacting them with examples of schools continuing to embed Treaty-based frameworks.
Education Minister Erica Stanford has defended the repeal, saying section 127 was “vague” and placed unfair legal expectations on boards. Hobson’s Pledge is encouraging supporters to contact Stanford to back the change.
The group also alleges some schools have been contacted or criticised by activists for not taking public positions. It argues that political campaigns within the education sector risk distracting from literacy and numeracy challenges and says schools should focus on core learning rather than advocacy.
Government ministers maintain that repealing section 127 restores clarity to the law and allows schools to teach tikanga or te reo without imposing Treaty obligations above other educational priorities.
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