University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater says it has been reviewing feedback about the Waipapa Taumata Rau courses.
University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater says it has been reviewing feedback about the Waipapa Taumata Rau courses.
The University of Auckland’s controversial Treaty of Waitangi and te ao Māori courses are unlikely to remain compulsory after negative feedback from staff and students, and criticism from politicians.
The university senate has recommended that Waipapa Taumata Rau (WTR) courses become an optional choice, rather than a core requirement.
Thecourses were made compulsory for all first-year students this year. The backdown comes after just one completed semester.
“The university has been reviewing the feedback about the Waipapa Taumata Rau courses,” University of Auckland vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater posted online on September 12.
“While students have found the courses valuable, they have also indicated where improvements could be made and told us they would like greater flexibility in how WTR fits within their programme of study,” she wrote.
University of Auckland's Waipapa Taumata Rau course was made compulsory this year. But after only one semester, it is now likely to become optional.
“As we do with all courses, we aim to use staff and student feedback to strengthen how they are delivered.
“To that end, and in response to that feedback, a proposal will be discussed at senate on September 15 recommending that WTR become an optional choice within general education for most programmes, rather than a core requirement.
“Senate’s advice will be reported to council in October.”
At the September 15 meeting, the senate voted to recommend that the WTR courses be made optional. The university’s governing body, the university council, is expected to act on this advice next month.
The Waipapa Taumata Rau courses are designed to provide foundational skills and knowledge, including an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and other elements of te ao Māori (the Māori world).
Not all students were sold on its educational value, or the cost.
Comments online included: “From what I’m seeing, you either pay for this course or some other. You can debate whether another elective or transdisciplinary would be more useful than WTR.”
Another said: “This class is literally primary school-level content. I love the idea of a compulsory class on Te Tiriti, but obviously they failed at it. This class has been the biggest waste of my time, I learnt more in my Year 4 class.”
Some students said the course costs – between $900 and $1200 – were high and the courses had little relevance to their studies when compared to other general education courses.
Act leader David Seymour called the WTR courses “a perversion of academic freedom”. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The majority of comments were negative but not racist.
“I have been warning against the compulsory course since before it was implemented, and this year we’ve had feedback from students unhappy at having to pay $1000 for a course that they find uninteresting, politically one-sided and irrelevant to their career ambitions.
“An official information release showed more than 8000 students have spent more than $14 million on the course so far.
“In Act’s view, the paper threatens the university’s international reputation. This is what happens when ideology drives course content instead of the needs of the market.
“I understand the university council next meets on October 15, when it is likely to consider the senate’s recommendation.
“So, I’ve been promoting a petition to make the WTR course optional and have been urging everyone who signs to email the university council and demand the restoration of student choice.”
Joseph Los’e joined NZME in 2022 as Kaupapa Māori Editor. He was a chief reporter and news director at the Sunday News, covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and, before joining NZME, worked for 12 years for Te Whānau o Waipareira.
