Consultation on Wānanga sector framework proposal

Closed 28 Oct 2022

Opened 20 Sep 2022

Contact

04 463 8000

Wānanga.Consultation@education.govt.nz

Feedback updated 17 Apr 2023

We asked

The Ministry and the Wānanga developed a shared proposal to create an enabling framework for the Wānanga sector in the Education and Training Act 2020 (E&T Act). This enabling framework would allow each Wānanga to work in collaboration with the Ministry to develop new rules in terms of who they are accountable to and how, their purpose and functions, and their governance structures.

We asked for your feedback on four issues:

Issue 1: Overall legislative design for the Wānanga sector which includes:

  • Option 1: Developing consistent administrative provisions for Wānanga in the E&T Act.
  • Option 2 (preferred option): Establishing an enabling Wānanga sector framework within the E&T Act that would allow Wānanga to:
    • Option 2a - Bespoke Tertiary Education Institution (TEI): Continue to be considered a TEI, with specific purpose, function and governance arrangements agreed between the Wānanga and the Government, or
    • Option 2b - New statutory entity: Become a new type of statutory entity which keeps its focus on education provision and but has greater independence in terms of its administrative arrangements, including accountability to iwi
  • Option 3: Developing separate primary legislation for individual Wānanga, outside the E&T Act.

Issue 2: More detail about the preferred legislative option (option 2 above), focusing on the characteristics of a Wānanga and provisions for establishing a new Wānanga

Issue 3: More detail about the preferred legislative option (option 2 above), focusing on how the Order In Council could enable each Wānanga to have different administrative settings (within set parameters).

Issue 4: Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi consistency, focusing on how the whole Wānanga sector framework aligns with Te Tiriti/the Treaty.

You said

The response to the proposed changes has been overwhelmingly supportive:

  • Most submitters were supportive of the proposed changes to establish a Wānanga sector framework
  • Most submitters strongly supported the respective positions of individual Wānanga

You can find a detailed summary of what was submitted during consultation attached below.

We did

We summarised the feedback we received through consultation, used this to refine the proposals, and sought Cabinet agreement to final policy decisions in early December 2022. The outcome of this is the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No.3) which proposes a Wānanga sector framework. This was introduced on 23 March 2023.

You can find the Bill here

You can make a submission on the Bill here. The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Monday, 01 May 2023

Results updated 24 Mar 2023

Files:

Overview

Consultation is closed

Contact

04 463 8000

Wānanga.Consultation@education.govt.nz

About the consultation

The Ministry of Education and Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (the Wānanga) are considering legislative changes to better recognise:

  • the individual and collective mana and tino rangatiratanga of the Wānanga,
  • the Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi-based relationship between the Wānanga and the Crown, and
  • the unique role the Wānanga play in the tertiary education system.

The Ministry and the Wānanga have developed a shared proposal to create an enabling framework for the Wānanga sector in the Education and Training Act 2020 (E&T Act). This enabling framework would allow each Wānanga to work in collaboration with the Ministry to develop new rules in terms of who they are accountable to and how, their purpose and functions, and their governance structures.

What is being consulted on?

This consultation seeks your feedback on four issues:

  • Issue 1: Overall legislative design for the Wānanga sector which includes:
    • Option 1: Developing consistent administrative provisions for Wānanga in the E&T Act.
    • Option 2 (preferred option): Establishing an enabling Wānanga sector framework within the E&T Act that would allow Wānanga to:
      • Option 2a - Bespoke Tertiary Education Institution (TEI): Continue to be considered a TEI, with specific purpose, function and governance arrangements agreed between the Wānanga and the Government, or
      • Option 2b - New statutory entity: Become a new type of statutory entity which keeps its focus on education provision and but has greater independence in terms of its administrative arrangements, including accountability to iwi
    • Option 3: Developing separate primary legislation for individual Wānanga, outside the E&T Act.
  • Issue 2: More detail about the preferred legislative option (option 2 above), focusing on the characteristics of a Wānanga and provisions for establishing a new Wānanga
  • Issue 3: More detail about the preferred legislative option (option 2 above), focusing on how the Order In Council could enable each Wānanga to have different administrative settings (within set parameters).
  • Issue 4: Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi consistency, focusing on how the whole Wānanga sector framework aligns with Te Tiriti/the Treaty.

You can find further information in the Discussion Document or the Summary Discussion document, both available at the bottom of this page.

How to have your say

We held targeted and public online engagements from 27 September to 14 October to give you the opportunity to learn about the proposals and how they might affect you, and provide feedback.

The consultation closed 4pm on 28 October 2022.

What will happen with your feedback?

Following this consultation, the Ministry of Education will provide an anonymised summary of submissions to Te Wānanga of Raukawa, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Te Wānanga of Raukawa, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, as well as the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education) and the Minister of Education will consider the views expressed and feedback received through the consultation. The Ministry of Education will update this webpage on how the work is progressing, including timelines and next steps, following policy decisions.

All submissions received by the Government will be subject to the Official Information Act 1982.

Please set out clearly in your submission if you object to the release of any information in the submission, and in particular, which part (or parts) you consider should be withheld, together with your reasons for withholding the information. The Ministry of Education will consider such objections when responding to requests under the Official Information Act 1982.