Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12845] 
4.  
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Do the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi form part of the new curriculum launched yesterday; if so why? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Yes. In drafting the new curriculum we recognised the fact that schools are already guided by the principles of the Treaty embedded in the National Education Guidelines. However many consultation respondents felt that it would also be appropriate to include explicit reference to the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand’s founding document. We have responded to this feedback by making the Treaty explicit in the overall purpose principles and values of the curriculum. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: What is the difference between having a requirement to operate under the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and having the Treaty of Waitangi as a guiding principle as the new curriculum has? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Both entrench the idea of a partnership that is fundamental to the founding document and the culture of New Zealand which is about recognising the unique status of tangata whenua and the place of te reo Maori in our country as well as the larger Anglo-Celtic culture of our country. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Is it not true that there is no reference at all in the Education Act 1989 to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi or to the Treaty of Waitangi itself with regard to either preschools or schools? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I think it is true that there is a reference in the physical education section of the Education Act and in the education guidelines that guide the practice of the curriculum in schools it is clearly stated that the Treaty should be a guiding principle. 
Dianne Yates 
: What reports has the Minister seen about support for the new curriculum? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I have seen some remarkable reports. The Chief Executive of Business New Zealand Phil O’Reilly says the new curriculum sets the right goal for young New Zealanders. The Retirement Commissioner says it is a major milestone in improving financial knowledge and has congratulated the Government. The Electoral Commission has praised the strong focus on citizenship. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Treaty of Waitangi itself contain any principles that are important for Aotearoa New Zealand and therefore deserve to be a core part of our children’s learning? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: For education a fundamental theme of the Treaty is partnership as I mentioned earlier and a recognition of the unique status of Maori as tangata whenua the first people of this land. This is not new in the education sector. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Just so that we are all very clear on the constitutional and historical position why was no one in the UK in partnership with the Crown on 5 February 1840 yet the Maori were in partnership with the Crown on 7 February 1840—could he explain that to us please? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think that question is outside the Minister’s ministerial responsibility but— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The Minister used the word “partnership”. He asserted the word “partnership”. I know what this House thinks about it and what other Ministers think. I would like him to explain to the country just what the constitutional and historical evidence is. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I say to the Hon Chris Carter that he may address the question if he wishes to do so. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: As a historian I am very interested in the question. I remind the member that of course the signing of the Magna Carta which is considered to be a fundamental document in the development of our constitutional history was a partnership between the Crown and the barons of England. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I did not ask about the Magna Carta; I asked about the Treaty of Waitangi of 6 February 1840. I know what the Magna Carta is but I want to know why the Treaty of Waitangi is being construed in the way he has just construed it in front of this House in answering the question. That is the question I want to have answered. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think the Minister did address the question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. Perhaps you could tell me Madam Speaker which part of his answer related to the question of partnership because none of his answer did so; he talked about the Magna Carta. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: It is not for the Speaker to interpret Ministers’ answers or members’ questions for that matter. But I did listen very carefully and the word “partnership” was certainly used in the answer as it was in the question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You are correct Madam Speaker. The Minister referred to the word “partnership” in respect of the Magna Carta but not in respect of the Treaty of Waitangi of 1840. What is important about this is that we have heard this sort of argument parleyed around this House for the last two decades and here we are on 7 November 2007 after two decades of discussion and the Minister cannot answer the question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: As I pointed out to the member if that question had been addressed to a Minister with ministerial responsibility then maybe a more satisfactory answer could have been given.