Parent says students 'force-fed radical left ideology' after Greens candidate attended awards

A concerned mother has complained that “radical left-wing anti-Government propaganda” was shared by a political candidate at a college’s awards ceremony last week. 

But the college says it invited the candidate as an “inspirational leader” and the school held no political views. 

Green Party Waiariki candidate Tania Waikato, who is a lawyer and social justice advocate, attended Tauranga Girls’ College’s Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Māori and Pasifika awards ceremony and took part in a question-and-answer session. 

One Year 9 student’s mother, who the Bay of Plenty Times agreed not to name to protect her daughter’s identity, said she felt “blindsided” by the school and was “force-fed Tania Waikato’s radical left ideology”. 

The mother, who has Te Arawa and Ngāti Kahu heritage, said her family lived the “real-life Treaty of Waitangi” with generational interracial blends. 

Her family had voted for National before, she had scrutineered for the Mana Party and she said if she had enrolled on the Māori roll this election, she would have voted for Waikato as the “least worst option”. 

Despite that, she complained to the school, saying the ceremony was hijacked by “radical left-wing anti-Government propaganda”. 

The mother said Waikato discussed during the question-and-answer session how the “racist Government” prompted her to stand as an electoral candidate. 

“This is not what I wanted to have to explain to my kids on the way home from a celebration for my daughter and her fellow students,” the mother said. 

“The emphasis on the drive home was not on my daughter, who had just been awarded for her work this year, but on the confusion around the political candidate ... allowed to rant her left-wing anti-Government perspectives on the current coalition.” 

She said her children asked her if the Government was racist and “doesn’t like us because we’re Māori”. 

Green Party Waiariki candidate Tania Waikato at Tauranga Girls' College's Māori and Pasifika prizegiving. 

The mother questioned why the school chose a political candidate instead of an alumna, noting Waikato had not attended the school. 

“If you are going to give preference to one Waiariki candidate to tout their carry-on, then all candidates should’ve been invited. 

“We should’ve at least been notified a political candidate was on the agenda ... It would allow us to make informed decisions instead of being blindsided.” 

The mother said the school’s newly minted first-time voters should be allowed to decide who they voted for “without their school presenting them a preferred candidate”. 

School says Waikato invited as ‘inspirational leader’ 

Tauranga Girls’ College principal Tara Kanji said the school held no political views. 

“It is unfortunate that in answering one of several questions on the night, Ms Waikato’s response was seen as a floor for campaigning – which I can assure you it was not.” 

Kanji said one question asked how Waikato managed the challenges of being a mother, a litigation lawyer and an electoral candidate. 

She said Waikato had attended a previous school event with alumni and student leaders, and was invited to the awards ceremony as an “inspirational leader”. 

Kanji said last year’s Māori and Pasifika prizegiving was attended by a New Zealand representative athlete who was also not an alumna. However, a graduate did attend the school’s sports prizegiving. 

She said this year’s Te Moana Nui a Kiwa ceremony was the largest celebration of the school’s Māori and Pasifika cohort in recent years. 

“As the tumuaki [principal], I take on board any concerns that parents raise, and have done so with this one complaint that came in.” 

The school had held mock elections through an Electoral Commission programme – which Kanji said was part of the school’s civics unit to “educate young people about the power of democracy”. 

Waikato rejects accusations 

Waikato said she rejected the mother’s characterisation of her “hijacking” the evening. 

She said two senior students prepared questions for Waikato, rather than her delivering a prepared speech. 

Green Party Waiariki candidate Tania Waikato. 

“I acknowledge that not everyone would agree with my opinion of the current Government, which was a very small part of the overall conversation. 

“However, the questions were asking for my personal experience and that is what I provided.” 

Waikato said she received positive feedback from parents and students who said the session was “inspiring”. 

“I also received a thank you message directly from a parent following the event. I believe that reflects the spirit of the night far more accurately than a single anonymous account.” 

Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.