Special Update - 

Treaty of Waitangi and Ridgeview School

Kia ora e te whānau,

You may have seen recent media coverage regarding changes to the Education andTraining Act and the role of school boards in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We want to reassure our community that these legislative changes will not alter the way we learn, teach, or value Te Ao Māori at Ridgeview School. 

The Government has clarified that while boards no longer hold a general legal duty to “give effect” to the Treaty, school boards are still required to:

-Support equitable outcomes for Māori learners

-Provide access to learning in te reo Māori when requested

-Ensure school practices reflect New Zealand’s cultural diversity

These expectations already align with Ridgeview’s current practice. We will continue to integrate Te Reo Māori, Tikanga, Māori perspectives, and local histories throughout our learning programmes, and we remain committed to fostering a culturally responsive environment where all students feel seen, valued, and supported. If further guidance is issued for schools, we will update our community as needed.

We also wanted to share some celebrations in this space—milestones we have achieved in 2025 that demonstrate our growing commitment to our Māori heritage and community.

-We have connected with Te Kawerau ā Maki, one of the local iwi connected to our whenua and significant places in our community, establishing a three-year partnership to grow our knowledge as teachers, students, and whānau.

-We are working with Te Kawerau ā Maki to develop a school pepeha that is unique to Ridgeview School and reflects our connection to the local whenua (land).

-In 2025, teachers have increased their knowledge and confidence in using te reo Māori both in the classroom and around the school.

-We have incorporated Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and worldview) throughout our curriculum planning in meaningful ways that reflect the unique heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand and Paremoremo.

-We track achievement for all students and closely monitor the progress of our Māori learners to ensure they are achieving equitable outcomes alongside their peers.

-Our strategic plan places strong emphasis on high and equitable outcomes for all students and highlights culturally responsive practice.

-Our students have 15 minutes of explicit te reo Māori learning every day, which is then meaningfully integrated throughout the week. This has been a real highlight for our students, who have loved being able to speak and pronounce Māori words with confidence.

-The growth and performance of our Kapa Haka group this year has been a major highlight. Their progress in understanding Kapa Haka, improving pronunciation, and performing to a very high standard was wonderful to see.

-We have also continued to develop our Sustainability Programme, which is rooted in kaitiakitanga—the guardianship and protection of our environment, and the reciprocal relationship between people and nature. Through this, we have expanded our Mārama Kai gardens and taught our tamariki valuable knowledge around growing, harvesting, and caring for our natural resources.

As we continue to strengthen our connection to our Māori heritage and community, we are proud of the way this journey supports our school vision to grow confident, connected, life-long learners. Through these experiences, all our students are developing and demonstrating our Ridgeview values — Respect (manaakitanga), Excellence (hiranga), Positive Relationships (whanaungatanga), and Self-Management (whakahaere whaiaro) — in authentic and meaningful ways. 

We look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.

Nga Mihi Nui, 

Cassey Prentice and Ridgeview School Board