Wananga welcomes Tribunal's report

New Zealand's largest tertiary provider, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, is welcoming the recommendations of a Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal report.

The tribunal is supporting the wananga's claim that the Crown is undermining its rangatiratanga (Maori sovereignty) and has effectively taken control of the institution.

The tribunal says the Crown tried to restrict the wananga to the teaching of Maori to Maori students. It recommends that the parties meet to discuss the issues and that the Government pay the wananga's costs of bring the claim to the tribunal.

A damning Auditor-General's report into the institution led to the resignation of founder Rongo Wetere. The report expressed concern about the inappropriate use of taxpayer money and the granting of contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to members of Dr Wetere's family.

- NEWSTALK ZB