Waitangi Tribunal finds Crown acted abruptly over school Treaty duty, recommends apology

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the Crown acted abruptly, unilaterally and without consulting Māori when it removed school boards' obligation to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). The change was made in November 2025 by an amendment to a bill. The tribunal has recommended the Crown formally apologise to Māori.