Te Tiriti o Waitangi School Board Update

Following the Board meeting on November 26, the first since the Minister of Education announced that the government intends to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Board would like to share the following statement with our school community.  This is a formal acknowledgement of our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and builds on the earlier statement and the position of the school made in Whaea Jacqui’s community notice in early November.
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Kia ora e te whānau

The School Board at Richmond Road School / Te Kura o Ritimana stand united in our ongoing and unwavering commitment to reo Māori, tikanga Māori and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti).  While we acknowledge the proposed legislative changes, our Board wishes to be clear that for our school, giving effect to Te Tiriti is not simply a legal formality.  It is a living expression of partnership, protection, and participation, and as a school community, guides us in providing a learning environment where all tamariki can thrive. 
Board members are unanimous in their ongoing commitment to honour and uphold our obligation to Te Tiriti for the benefit of all tamariki across our four rōpū. We believe that Te Tiriti strengthens the quality of the education we offer to every student and underpins the kaupapa of our unique kura.
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As a Board we are actively looking to give effect to Te Tiriti, including in the following ways:

• Exploring the ability to amend our school’s constitution to better reflect the specific needs of our kura and to ensure appropriate representation, including in relation to mana whenua and Te Tiriti;
• Ensuring Te Tiriti is considered during Board discussions and decision making, with a written reminder to do so included in all Board agendas;
• Undertaking professional development to better understand how to give effect to Te Tiriti as the school’s governing body; and
• Supporting management in their endeavours to increase awareness of Te Tiriti through professional development for staff and providing all our kaiako with the confidence to nurture te reo māori, tikanga māori, mātauranga māori.

While government policy may shift, our strategic direction remains firm. As outlined in the school’s strategic plan, we are committed to Te tipu ngātahi mā roto i te whakanuinga o ō tātou ake tuakiri / Growing Together, Celebrating Our Unique Identities.  Our obligation to Te Tiriti and partnership participation is a foundational pillar to achieving this ambition and is explicitly stated in the plan.  This will not change.
As always, the Board invites all members of our school community to help us strengthen our commitment to Te Tiriti.  We believe your feedback is vital and we welcome your perspectives on shaping how we can better give effect to this foundational document within our school environment.

Nāku noa, nā
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Richmond Road School/Te Kura o Ritimana School Board
113 Richmond Road, Ponsonby, 
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau 1061.
p. 09 376 1091   w. www.richmondroad.school.nz