As the Board of Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, we write to express our deep concern regarding the Government’s recent decision to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. These legislative changes, passed under urgency and without public consultation, diminish an essential commitment that has long guided how kura across Aotearoa serve their communities.

Raphael House is an integrated Rudolf Steiner school grounded in a holistic, human-centred philosophy of education. Our identity is deeply shaped by our place in Aotearoa, our longstanding relationships with mana whenua, and our commitment to nurturing the individuality, dignity, and belonging of every ākonga. Te Tiriti o Waitangi sits alongside Steiner educational principles as a foundation for how we govern, how we teach, and how we uphold the spiritual, cultural, and social wellbeing of our community.

We see the inclusion of mātauranga Māori, te reo Māori, tikanga, and local histories as enriching and wholly aligned with Steiner pedagogy, which emphasises reverence, relationship, connection to place, and the development of compassionate, socially conscious young people. We have witnessed the positive impact of this partnership approach in our curriculum, festivals and community life, and our ongoing work with whānau Māori. These practices strengthen identity, foster genuine respect, and deepen our students’ understanding of what it means to live and learn in Aotearoa.

Regardless of the recent legislative changes, our Board wishes to state clearly and unequivocally that we will continue to honour and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our governance, decision-making, policies, and everyday life at Raphael House. We remain committed to supporting the teaching and learning of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, and to working in partnership with Māori (particularly mana whenua) to shape the direction of our kura in a way that reflects equity, partnership, and mutual respect.

We respectfully urge the Government to reconsider this change and re-affirm an expectation that all schools in Aotearoa honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Upholding Te Tiriti is not simply a matter of compliance; it is a matter of integrity, justice, and recognising the founding covenant of this country. Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve an education system that prepares them to meet the world with openness, cultural humility, and a strong sense of belonging to this place.

Ngā mihi nui,

Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School Board of Trustees