So Who Is Actually Complaining, Minister? Who is making all of these 'wild claims'?

By Rebecca Thomas

Herald News: Education leaders unite against curriculum shake-up, urge delay

Oh my goodness… what a surprise.

Surprised.

Erica Stanford says she is “genuinely surprised” by claims from the sector — surprised about resourcing, surprised about pressure, surprised at the pushback.

How can you be surprised… when the so-called “noisy” sector hasn’t exactly been whispering?

All along this hasn’t been a quiet murmur tucked away in staffrooms between bells. Instead, this has been open letters — not one or two voices, but dozens of leaders standing side by side, putting their names to something that matters. This has been Tribunal spaces where truth was spoken — laid bare. This has been negotiations — real ones — where workload, curriculum, and expectation were not just raised but formalised.

We have said how we feel.

Not once. Not twice. But over and over again.

And not in abstract ways. 

We have explained what this pace feels like at 9:15am when the plan you wrote at midnight no longer fits the directive handed down in front of the media and business clientele in Auckland at 8:30am. We have explained what this workload looks like on a Sunday evening when your own whānau waits while you try to make sense of shifting expectations. We have explained what this confusion sounds like when a kaiako stands in front of tamariki, while the ground caves in.

So when the response comes back from our Minister as one of ‘surprise’, it doesn’t feel like a misunderstanding. It appears to be something she finds funny and 'wild'.

On the news reel, when she was asked directly why so many teachers are upset… there’s a small pause. And then — a quiet chuckle. Not very loud, but just enough to catch (1 min 33 secs).

For those of us inside all of it, there is no humour I assure you.

Because in the very same breath, we are told by her that: “We are responding to what the sector wants.” We’ve been told the sector wanted things “gripped up.” That we wanted tighter structure. That we asked for this level of prescription.

And I really don’t know who that “we” is supposed to be.

Because the "we" I stand with — the kaiako, the leaders, the ones holding classrooms together with care and duct tape — we have been saying something quite different.

"We" have been talking about Te Mātaiaho. About what it could have been when we first caught a glimpse of it. About the pride we felt — that finally, here was something grounded in an indigenous framework, not just token words scattered through a document. Something gifted with whakaaro, with intention, with the blessing of Māori, of tangata whenua.

"We" have been asking for time.  Time for genuine co-construction. For a seat in the room from the beginning — not once the rubber stamp fell onto the seal.

So who is actually complaining, Minister?

Who, exactly, is surprising you?

• Jason Miles, President, New Zealand Principals’ Federation

• Ripeka Lessels, Te Manukura | President, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Neke Adams, Te Tai Tokerau Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Kim Alexander, President, Selwyn Principals’ Association

• Professor Vivienne Anderson, Dean, College of Education, University of Otago

• Frances Arapere, Te Haunui Central Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Amanda Bennett, President, Waitākere Area Principals’ Association

• Kaz Bissett, President, South Otago Principals’ Association

• Kim Blackwood, President, Otago Primary Principals’ Association

• Russell Burt, Chairman, Tāmaki Community Development Trust

• Yvonne Catherwood, President, Buller Principals’ Association

• Rachel Chater, President, Kawerau Principals’ Association

• Bridget Chilton, Te Rāngai Matanga Kaiwhakaako, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Nikki Clarke, Member, Canterbury Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools

• Dr Claire Coleman, Aotearoa Educators Collective

• Simon Craggs, President, Papakura Principals’ Association

• Glenn Davies, Northern Wairoa President, Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association

• Anna Davis, Area Council Chair, Waitaha, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Thomas Davison, President, Te Manihi Tumuaki, Northland Secondary School Principals’ Association

• Stu Devenport, Lower Hutt Cluster President, Wellington Regional Primary Principals’ Association

• Mandy Dodds, President, West Coast Principals’ Association

• Dr Therese Ford, National Coordinator, Te Akapūmau

• Vaughan Franklin, North Hamilton Cluster President, Waikato Principals’ Association

• Sally Griffin and Cassie Katene, Co-convenors, Te Ope Kohungahunga (Early Childhood National Leadership Group), NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Maia Hall, Auckland Women’s Centre

• Mark Harris, President, Gisborne Principals’ Association

• Celeste Hawkins, Support Staff National Caucus Kaiawhina Tautoko, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Martin Hett, President, Ōtaki-Kāpiti Principals’ Association

• Dr Paul Heyward, Professional Teaching Fellow, Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand

• Hamish Hislop, Co-President, Whiria New Plymouth Principals’ Association

• Sam Hocking, Co-President, Hawke’s Bay Principals’ Association

• Sophie Hoskins, on behalf of Fiona McDonald, Education Outdoors New Zealand

• Antoinette Hudson, Co-chair, Waikato Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Ben Hutchings, President, Mangere Principals’ Association

• Associate Professor Naomi Ingram, University of Otago and member of Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand

• Bert Iosia, President, New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association

• Bruce Jepsen, Te Manukura, Te Akatea

• Jason Johnson, Special Education National Reference Group

• Jude Karaitiana, Co-chair, Central East Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Rachael Kavermann and Zac Markham, Co-convenors, Ngā Aukaha, NZEI Te Riu Roa National Leadership Group

• Dave Lamont, President, Taita-Stokes Valley Kāhui Ako

• Andrew Leverton, President, Mid-Canterbury Principals’ Association

• Robyn Lose, Chair, Bay of Plenty/Te Rohe o Te Waiariki Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Maree Lucas, President, North Canterbury Principals’ Association

• Annmaree MacGregor, President, Whangārei Principals’ Association

• Stephanie Madden, Chair, NZEI Te Riu Roa Principals’ Council

• Associate Professor Dr Richard Manning, University of Canterbury

• Maiana McCurdy, Chair, North Shore-Hibiscus Rōpū, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Donna McDonald, Co-President, Mana Primary Principals’ Association

• Heemi McDonald, Physical Education New Zealand

• Malcolm Milner, Eden-Albert Cluster President, Auckland Primary Principals’ Association

• Jan Monds, Convenor, Support Staff National Caucus Kaiawhina Tautoko, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Brendon Morrissey, President, Te Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association

• Glenys Murphy, Te Haunui Central Area Council

• Lucy Naylor, President, Auckland Primary Principals’ Association

• Chris North, Education Outdoors New Zealand

• Zara and Debbie North, Counties Manukau Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Amanda O’Brien, Interim President, South Canterbury Principals’ Association

• Gary O’Brien, President, North Shore Principals’ Association

• Saane Faaofo Oldehaver, President, Manurewa Principals’ Association

• Craig Pentecost, President, Western Bay of Plenty Principals’ Association

• Alicia Poroa, Megan Collins, and Maria Perreau, Aotearoa Social Studies Educators’ Network

• Shirley Porteous, President, Wellington Regional Primary Principals’ Association

• Mark Potter, Founding member, Education for All

• Dr Matiu Ratima, Senior Lecturer, Mātauraka Māori, College of Education, University of Otago

• Nick Raynor, President, Hieke Nelson Principals’ Association

• Lisa Dillon-Roberts, President, Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association

• Matt Sides, Hibiscus Coast Principals’ Cluster President, Auckland Primary Principals’ Association

• Marama Stewart, President, Eastern Bay of Plenty Principals’ Association

• Lynda Stuart, Aotearoa Educators Collective

• Maureen Svensson, Chair, Murihiku Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Ramona Taogaga, Chair, Taranaki Area Council, NZEI Te Riu Roa

• Hinei Taute, Vice President, Rotorua Principals’ Association

• Annette Thomson, Whakaari Aotearoa Drama New Zealand

• Craig Thornhill, New Zealand History Teachers’ Association

• Etuale Togia, New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association

• Juliette Toma, Member, Mana Primary Principals’ Association

• Todd Warmington, President, Northern Wairoa Principals’ Association

• Samantha Wehipeihana, Whakaari Aotearoa Drama New Zealand

• Dr Patricia Wells, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago

• Alicia Whata, Inner City Cluster President, Auckland Primary Principals’ Association

• Jennie Williams, Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Art Educators

• Tracey Woolley, Chair, NZEI Te Riu Roa Area Council Waitakere Rōpū

Have a proper look at the list of voices raising concern. Do not skim it. Do not reduce it to group or two.

What does it actually show?

It shows presidents of principal associations from every corner of the motu — Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Northland, the Coast.

These are the people running our schools.

It shows professors, associate professors, and lecturers — the people who research learning, who train our future kaiako, who understand curriculum deeply, not just politically. It shows subject associations — history, drama, outdoor education, PE, the arts — the very people who live in the curriculum areas being reshaped.

It shows community leaders.

Learning support experts.

Voices from early childhood through to secondary.

Yes — it includes Māori leadership.

Yes — it includes union voices.

And it should.

But it is not only that.

This is not one group.

This is not one agenda.

This is the system.

Principals don’t sign statements lightly.

Academics don’t step into public critique without grounding.

Associations don’t mobilise nationally because they feel like it.

These are people whose careers are built on improving outcomes for tamariki.

People who understand what good change looks like —and what rushed, disconnected change feels like.

So when a list like this forms…it tells you something very specific.

This is not resistance for the sake of resistance.

It is alignment.

Alignment across regions.

Across roles.

Across decades of experience.

And that kind of alignment is rare.

When it happens, it usually means one thing: Something is wrong.

Because think about what it would take for all of these voices to agree.

Different communities.

Different pressures.

Different priorities.

And yet — the same message keeps surfacing: The pace is too fast. The direction is flawed. The consultation hasn’t been genuine. The curriculum, as it stands, is not fit for purpose.

So when people say:

“It’s just unions.”“It’s just pro-Māori voices.”

They are not describing the list.

They are shrinking it.

Because the reality is much harder to dismiss.

This is the system speaking to itself.

And you cannot look at a list like that —a list made up of principals, professors, national leaders, subject experts — and honestly say: “I didn’t know.”

You cannot say: “I’m surprised by the concerns” and at the same time say: “I’m responding to what the sector wants” when those concerns are the sector speaking.

There is a difference between hearing and listening.

Hearing collects sound.

Listening requires you to shift.

And what we are seeing right now is a fake system that is very good at hearing — collecting submissions, holding meetings, gathering feedback — but far less comfortable with what comes next.

Because listening might mean slowing down. It might mean changing course. It might mean admitting that the people closest to the work have something essential to say about how it should unfold.

And still, when it spills into the media, the response tightens.

It becomes about urgency. About momentum. About not wanting to be held back.

And somewhere in that, the blame quietly slides sideways. Onto “unions.”Onto “resistance.” Onto the idea that this pushback is manufactured.

But why would educators — already stretched — create conflict for the sake of it?

Unions don’t spend time, energy, and resource stirring unrest for fun.

They do it to bring people to account.

To stand for voice.

To push for justice when something isn’t right.

So no.

This isn’t about not knowing.

It’s about what you choose to do with what you know.

Because when more than 80 leaders put their names to a statement…when voices across the motu align…when the same concerns echo again and again… that isn’t noise.

We are asking for change that is done with us. In a way that protects the mana of our tamariki, our whānau, and our profession.

Because this work is too important to pretend we didn’t hear it being spoken.