The Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia have written to all 34 Anglican primary and secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, to affirm that the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia respects and upholds the values and responsibilities of educating our tamariki and rangatahi in the context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

"Our dedication to honouring Te Tiriti is foundational to who we are as a Church." said the Archbishops in their statement shared with Anglican school principals and their Boards this week.

"[Te Tiriti] shapes our relationships, our governance, and our responsibilities to ākonga [students] ,whānau, and communities across all three Tikanga of our Church."

The Archbishops have released their affirmation of Treaty-based approaches to education, including ongoing engagement between mana whenua, Te Hāhi Mihinare and Anglican schools. Their statement comes in response to the Coalition Government's plan to remove Treaty-related provisions from the 2020 Education and Training Act. 

"Whatever legislative changes may arise, our identity and mission are not determined by political cycles." write the Archbishops.

"In this moment of national conversation, Anglican schools have an opportunity to witness to a hopeful, just, and honouring future." 

The statement on the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Anglican education is signed by the Bishop of Aotearoa, Archbishop Don Tamihere, Bishop of Polynesia Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa and the Bishop of Wellington, Archbishop Justin Duckworth.

Read the Archbishops' Full Statement on Te Tiriti and Anglican Schools here.