Human Rights Commission welcomes historic partnership between Waikato Tainui and local schools

The Human Rights Commission has welcomed an historic partnership between Waikato Tainui and local secondary schools. The Kawenata o te Mana Matauranga agreement will see local Maori history incorporated into curricula for students.

“All people who live in the Waikato Tainui region deserve to know their region’s true history, truth and reconciliation is a fundamental part of good race relations,” said Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

“We can look back over the past century at those things decision makers have wanted us to remember and memorialise, as well as those things we chose to forget. It’s important for future generations of Kiwis to know their country’s true and total history.”

This week Waikato Tainui chief executive Parekawhia McLean said the tribe would sign a partnership later this month with 14 secondary schools in Waikato and South Auckland that would set mutual education objectives. Similar iwi partnerships already exist across the country including one between Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa with local schools in their region.

Indigenous Rights Commissioner Karen Johansen applauded the partnership.

“Providing teachers with the resources to teach a balanced perspective of Waikato Tainui and colonial government history is a powerful move forward and the right thing to do for our rangatahi,” said Ms Johansen.

“I applaud Waikato Tainui in taking the initiative to ensure our children understand the local history and get to know the stories from our past. The partnership between Waikato Tainui and the local secondary schools is a great example of the Treaty of Waitangi in action at a grass roots level.”

ENDS

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