SEANZ OVERVIEW
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The SEANZ Fellowship of Steiner/Waldorf schools recognises that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the constitutional foundation of our society, that the Māori people are the tangata whenua, and that their language and culture are a fundamental and living part of Aotearoa New Zealand.
We recognise that Aotearoa New Zealand is a bi-cultural nation and acknowledge that Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins our learning environment. We are strongly committed to upholding and honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We celebrate the cultural richness and diversity in Aotearoa. Steiner/Waldorf schools and early childhood centres are responsive to the wider cultural, social and political contexts in which they are located in Aotearoa New Zealand in the 21st Century and beyond.
Our education embraces and honours Aotearoa New Zealand’s bi-cultural heritage and considers all human beings to be free and equal in dignity and rights. While acknowledging Rudolf Steiner’s work, Steiner Education Aotearoa New Zealand works out of an approach of equity and strongly rejects any historical statements which may have been made by Rudolf Steiner and from which inferences of racial prejudice may be made.
Most Rudolf Steiner Schools in Aotearoa, New Zealand are state integrated, special character schools. With this status our schools are committed to up-holding the intent and values of both the Waldorf Curriculum and the New Zealand Curriculum.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te matauranga, nōna te ao.
Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.