Erica Stanford Shows Her True Colours

Recently Labour education spokesperson Ginny Andersen published a very interesting document on Facebook.  This document reveals exactly how much influence Stanford has had on the removal of Māori and Pasifika references from the new curriculum documents.

This could be construed as showing the clear influence of Professor Elizabeth Rata, who, as we know, has a stated goal of ‘recolonising’ New Zealand, to undo all the work that has gone in over the past 50 years to address the inequities to Māori resulting from the the colonisation of this land. Behind that, of course, is the stated aim of the Atlas Network, to maintain the white Eurocentric, preferably Anglo-Saxon, domination of the world. 

Here is Ginny Andersen’s post on this, including the screenshot of the ‘smoking gun.’

‘Buckle up for another shocker. 

If you are wondering why Māori and Pacific students don’t see themselves in the school curriculum it’s because the Minister literally erased them. She crossed them out with her pen.

Official documents show Erica Stanford personally struck out the words “ākonga Māori, Pacific students and those with learning needs” from the curriculum design principles. They weren’t rewritten. They weren’t updated. They were just crossed out by her. 

The same documents show references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi disappeared from an approved version of the curriculum principles. Former curriculum writer Dr Claire Coleman says this matches what officials were being directed to do: remove references to te reo Māori and Te Tiriti from curriculum documents.

The Minister can spin this however she likes, but the documents speak for themselves. When Māori, Pacific and students with learning needs are literally crossed out of the curriculum, it says everything about this Government’s priorities.

Every child deserves to see their identity, culture and place in Aotearoa reflected in what they learn.’

Brie Elliott has added her comments on this:

‘People keep asking why this matters.

Because these weren’t anonymous edits.

According to the reporting and the released documents, these handwritten annotations were Erica Stanford’s.

When you look at the pages, you’re looking at ministerial edits to the curriculum draft.

One of the things that has drawn attention is that references to Māori and Pacific learners were crossed out. 

Elsewhere, the draft’s wording about what New Zealand should “deem important” in education is marked up.

These aren’t spelling corrections. They’re edits to the content and emphasis of the curriculum itself.

That’s why describing the changes as “negligible” has been so controversial.

Don’t take my word for it.

Read the documents. Read the reporting. Then decide for yourself whether these look like negligible changes.

Erica needs to go.’

But Erica isn’t standing alone on this. She is part of the team that is destroying the inclusive society in this country. The ongoing racism is out there for everyone to see. Seymour and Peters are very obvious, but I’d suggest the one we really need to watch is Paul Goldsmith, as much of the necessary legislation is coming from him.

When the distinguished former National Party Minister of Treaty Settlements, Chris Finlayson, is speaking very loudly and clearly about his objections to, and concerns about, the ongoing racism of this government, and that the current National Party has little in common with the party he joined and worked for, we should be very very concerned. 

When will you open your eyes to the reality of this government?