The Education Ministry told RNZ ministerial approval of curriculums was normal.
"The ministry is responsible for writing the curriculum and has taken advice and worked with a wide range of local education experts, teachers and other stakeholders over a long period, to produce a knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning," it said.
"We write a good curriculum combining experts and science"
"The curriculum-writing process is rigorous and includes multiple cycles of review and refinement.
"Then the minister pushes their views"
It combines evidence, insights, and experiences over the last 20 years with formal feedback and input from a wide range of groups from across the education sector."
"We do our best to produce a best practice curriculum"
"Ministers have always been responsible for the curriculum sign-off as part of the process."
"Then the minister overrules us"