The Defence Minister says possible requirements for Army leaders having to know waiata and karakia from memory is unacceptable. 

Act MP Todd Stephenson wrote to Judith Collins about the cultural skills framework with concerns it went beyond normal expectations of the Public Service. 

She says the force hadn't raised it with her, but after speaking with army leaders they had decided to pause implementation.  

Collins told Mike Hosking a soldier's ability to serve their country has nothing to do with their ability to recite waiata. 

She says it would be nice for people to do it, but as evidenced in her visit to the Munich Security Conference there's more pressing concerns, like ending up speaking Russian. 

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