University of Waikato Treaty Statement
The University currently operates in an environment of heightened interest in the Treaty of Waitangi, of heightened sensitivity about the rights and obligations established by the Treaty, and a clear direction from Government for public sector organisations to give effect to the Treaty in their strategy and operations. Like much of the public sector, the University of Waikato has established structures and initiatives designed to give effect to the Treaty, it has advanced further down this path than many other universities and public sector institutions , and our responses to the Parata-Gardiner report (including the Taskforce process that has been established) will take us further.
The development of a University of Waikato Treaty statement ensures that the University has a governance and executive management level statement of its interpretation of the Treaty. This statement provides a framework for the University's individual initiative, to explain the role of its leadership positions and committees, and to promote understanding of the contribution of individual initiatives to our efforts to give effect to the Treaty.
By adopting our own framework and interpretation of the Treaty we provide greater coherence to our own efforts to give effect to the Treaty and provide a clearly defined framework for our attempts to give effect to the Treaty.
Following an extensive period of consultation with staff, students and the wider community, at its meeting on 15 February 2022 Council approved the University of Waikato Treaty Statement for public release in English and Te Reo Māori.