Jamie Ensor: NZ Herald political reporter on the backlash to Treaty requirements for school boards

There's criticism of Treaty requirements for school boards.

Education Minister Erica Stanford says a section in the Education and Training Amendment Bill requiring school boards to reflect tikanga Māori in policies and plans wasn't added by her.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says many education regulations mention Treaty obligations - which isn't Stanford's focus.

NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor explains further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm now for local politics and New Zealand heeror political
reporter Jamie Enzor is with me.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Now, Hi Jamie, good morning, How are you good?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Thank you? So the educate Education Minister, Erica Stanford is
accusing some critics of frothing at the mouth to do
with a Treaty of White Hongey clause and education legislation.
What has got everyone into a bit of a spin
about this?

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, So this is a political war of words between
Erica Stanford and the right wing lobby group Hobson's Pledge.
And what it comes down to is that Hobson's Pledge
has made a claim to its supporters that the Education
Minister is trying to sneak what it called a radical
Treaty of White Ungy clause into the legislation that governs
our education system. And that clause requires school boards of

(00:57):
trustees to give effect the treaty, including reflecting Tea, Kung
and Moldy and taking steps to make sure instruction is
available in today. Now, as you can imagine, that set
off quite a storm. This is a government of parties
that were elected somewhat on a platform of rolling back
the likes of co governance, and what they see is
the generic mentions of the treaty and legislation. But quite

(01:20):
counter to what Hobson's pledge claimed, this treaty clause has
been the legislation for a while now. Erica Sanford isn't
sneaking it into the law, and she made that point
pretty loudly, with what I reckon is some of the
strongest language I've heard from a minister in a long time.
She said that Hobson's pledge was whipping up hatred, frothing
at the mouth and spouting out what she described as

(01:44):
complete and utter garbage and lies. Now, the confusion appears
to have come from the fact that the Minister is
making changes to this particular piece of legislation. She's putting
an emphasis on school boards being focused on student achievement,
but she hasn't removed that treaty clause, which has upset
these critics. Now. Interestingly, the act Party told us this

(02:06):
week that actually wanted this clause removed immediately from the legislation.
But what's going to happen is that the government is
going to review it as part of a wider look
at treaty clauses across many different laws. Hobson's Pledge has
responded saying it's not interested in name calling and it
just wants the clause gone.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
Okay, and when will they be take doing that wider
look at treaty clauses.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, so that work is currently underway. It's seeming to
be coming to the ends of the process.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Okay, thank you.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Now.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
The government has unleashed a law and order ben ends
of this week. There's been a lot of announcements, from
trespassed laws to shoplifting. How has it been received overall?

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yes, so a fairly classic move by the government. This week.
It was a quiet recess week, so the government wanted
to fill the void and it has not one, not two,
not three, but four law and order announcements. Of course,
law and order remains a pretty key issue for voters,
so an avalanche of these types of announcements isn't going
to hurt. Paul Goldsmith, the Justice Minister, covered off everything

(03:03):
from new offenses for those who assault first respond a
new offense for coward punchers, fines for shoplifting, and strengthening
trespass legislation. As you mentioned now, most of this was
entirely expected. For example, one of those offenses was in
the National New Zealand First Coalition Agreement. In terms of
how it's been received, a number of the government's opponents

(03:24):
have said that ministers should be more focus on addressing
the causes of crime, so things like poverty the cost
of living, rather than just toughening up the punishments. And
Green MP Tammath for Paul said that when people can't
afford to feed themselves, they sometimes do resort to stealing
food and it was wrong to go after these people.
And Paul Goldsmith, of course took the opportunity to hit

(03:46):
back at that, releasing a press release saying that the
Greens were making excuses for people stealing from hard working
New Zealanders.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Jamie, thanks so much, appreciate your time this morning. That
was New Zealand Herald political reporter Jamie Ensall.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin. Listen
live to news Talks they'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.