Waipapa Taumata Rau Course to Potentially Become Optional Gen-Ed

In March of 2025, the University of Auckland launched a new paper for all undergraduate students beginning their first year of study. The Waipapa Taumata Rau (WTR) course, consisting of information about New Zealand history, Māori culture, and the Treaty of Waitangi, was created to be a compulsory requirement for any new undergraduate students.

From the beginning, the course was scrutinised, most loudly by members of the ACT party such as Parmjeet Parmar, who earlier in the year also proposed a bill targeting "university services based on race". Parmar also made calls for the WTR course to be scrapped.

Amongst students, the views on the paper are a bit more complicated. Many say that it's important to learn about Aotearoa's history, and delve more into Māori culture and practices. However, some students have also expressed that the fee for this course will be added to their student loan, and they would prefer to have a choice on whether to select it.

On September 12th at 1:05pm, the Vice Chancellor's update, sent to all students, detailed that the the feedback received from students and staff regarding the course would be discussed at a Senate meeting on September 15th, and that they would discuss whether the course should become an optional General Education paper, rather than a requirement.

The results of this discussion are set to be presented to the Council in October.

Is the University giving in to the criticism from political parties, or are they genuinely taking student voices into account? It would be intriguing to have some more transparency on what truly triggered this sudden decision.

There will be an update to this article once further information is given by the University regarding their decision.

AUSA has also been contacted for comments on this development, and any response they provide will be published on Craccum's website.