OPEN LETTER:

Dear Vice Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater,

We the undersigned are writing to you to express our concern about the University of Auckland forcing students to take a course on the Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand history. 

This is not because we don't think that these are worthwhile subjects to study. Rather we object to the fact that it is mandatory and that the facts around the Treaty and our history are highly contested. There are polarised views about whether Māori ceded sovereignty, for example. The people who are involved in writing and delivering these courses may take a radical view of the Treaty and may teach their opinions as truth.

Pro Vice Chancellor Māori Te Kawehau Hoskins said students will benefit from the various units which include critical thinking, academic writing and working in groups. Surely these are skills learnt as a consequence of studying any course at the University of Auckland, so why do they need to do it via this one?

If a person wants to study the Treaty, New Zealand history, Māori mythology, and te reo they should enrol in a course to do so. They're entitled to seek that kind of education, but no one should be forced into it.

We are concerned that this course will takeaway the opportunity for students to enrol in other courses that are more suited to their interests and skills. Depending on the degree and what they are majoring in, this mandatory course could be totally irrelevant to their studies.

This issue further highlights the fundamental problem with universities making the Treaty of Waitangi a key part of their vision and claiming to be "Treaty led". This makes critiques of the Treaty beyond the pale. At universities there should not be 'sacred cows' like this.

We have some serious questions about the course, including:

• Will students be able to challenge the content of this course - employing critical thinking - without facing being marked down or disciplined?
• Can a student object to being made to take the course altogether? Can a student opt out?
• Who is writing and delivering these courses? Will the university be taking a plurality of views into account rather than presenting a single truth as determined by a handful of people?
• If a student asserts that Māori did cede sovereignty, would they be marked as wrong?
• How much will this course cost students?

Vice Chancellor, one of the best things about university is having the choice to chart your future. If one is interested in the history of New Zealand and the Treaty they could enrol in a history degree and we assume that there are other courses that cover te reo Māori and other aspects of te ao Māori. It is fantastic that students have the option to do so. Making this course mandatory takes that choice away.

We urge you and the University of Auckland to roll out the course next year as optional. 

Students don't want to be forced to take courses of no relevance to their study or interest to them. To push this politicised content on them is indoctrination and that is wrong. 

Regards,

Hobson's Pledge and the undersigned supporters