Judy Gill: A Sacred Lie - The Rise Of Spiritual Politics In NZ Education

I am not a political figure. I have never stood for office, never joined a party, never published in any mainstream outlet until recently. I am simply a parent living on Waiheke Island, trying to raise my son in peace, in reason, and in freedom. I do not want my son to attend a Christian school, nor do I want to homeschool him. I want what used to be normal in NZ: a secular, neutral education free from religious or spiritual instruction.

And yet, today, that is no longer available to my child.

John Robertson: Te Whāriki, Māori Spirituality, and the Blurring of State and Religion in NZ Education

New Zealand’s national early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, has undergone significant changes — especially since its 2017 update. While intended to reflect a bicultural framework, this curriculum now includes regular and embedded references to Māori spiritual concepts, including: