Aorere College commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Letter to our Aorere Community. 

 Tēnā koutou katoa, 

The Aorere College Board joins other Aotearoa schools in voicing our serious concern regarding the Government's decision to withdraw the statutory requirement for school boards to implement the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a change we believe undermines our commitment to all students.

Our board recognises its moral and educational imperative to understand and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, thereby strengthening our ability to serve the diverse needs of all ākonga. As a school grounded in ngā mātāpono of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, tikanga, kaitiakitanga, hiranga and rangatiratanga, Aorere College wishes to reaffirm our commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Our Commitment: 

• We respect the status of Māori as tangata whenua and value the language, culture, and identity of all ākonga.
• We work alongside whānau, iwi, and our wider community to co-construct a learning environment that reflects our local stories, histories, and aspirations.
• We aspire to equitable outcomes for Māori learners and all learners. We continually build staff capability in culturally responsive practice and support ākonga leadership in shaping our school's future. 

Looking Ahead:
Our strategic and day-to-day actions will continue to reflect this community through curriculum design, relationships with mana whenua, staff professional learning, and student voice. We remain proud to be a school that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and invite our community to walk alongside us in this kaupapa. 

Our Position:  Unwavering Commitment and Call to Action
As a governing board, we cannot support changes that remove Te Tiriti o Waitangi from the centre of our education system. Therefore, we formally request and affirm the following:

• Revocation of Legislative Change: We believe that any legislative change removing the requirement for School Boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi must be revoked.
• Accountability: We affirm that all school boards must remain accountable for meeting the letter and spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Strengthening Partnership: We urge that any future reform or review of the School Board's governance objectives strengthens, rather than weakens, the pivotal role of Te Titiriti partnership in the schooling system. 

Our School Board remains fully committed to ensuring that Aorere College is inclusive, culturally responsive, and dedicated to achieving equitable outcomes for all ākonga.
Nā mātou noa, nā
Aorere College Principal, Leanne Webb
Aorere College Board Presiding Member, Anna Holloway