Waitangi Tribunal review to begin mid-year
A review into the Treaty of Waitangi Act - which established the Waitangi Tribunal - will begin in the middle of the year, the Government confirmed today.
The review was part of the coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First, which included a commitment to "amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation".
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said today a review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 was "timely" given the "progress of historical claims and settlements and concerns about the Tribunal's current workload".
An Independent Technical Advisory Group, chaired by legal expert Bruce Grey KC, would lead the review with support from Te Puni Kōkiri.
The review would consider whether the Treaty of Waitangi Act provided clarity around the extent of the Tribunal's jurisdiction, how different types of claims are managed, and how the legislation aligns with other legislation.
Joining Grey as part of the advisory group would be senior public servant Kararaina Calcott-Cribb, lawyer David Cochrane, and respected Māori leader Dion Tuuta.
The group would engage directly with peak Māori and Iwi entities, Treaty law experts, and current and former Tribunal members.
Potaka said this would ensure that "the right voices and perspectives are reflected in the recommendations they provide to ministers at the end of their review".
Engagement would begin midway through this year and continue throughout the review process.
Advice would also be provided to ministers, including NZ First Minister Shane Jones, by September 2025.
Legislative proposals were intended to be introduced by the end of this year.
'Over the past 50 years, the Tribunal has made significant contributions to the Māori Crown relationship and informed the settlement of both historical and contemporary Treaty claims impacting generations of whānau across the country," Potaka said.
'A review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 will ensure the Tribunal continues to effectively meet the intent of the legislation - considering claims relating to breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi - and providing timely, well-reasoned findings."
'The review will ensure the Waitangi Tribunal remains focused, relevant, effective and fit for purpose not just for today, but for the generations to come.'
ACT leader David Seymour supported the review. He said the tribunal had "gone well beyond its brief" and become "increasingly activist".
'It's tried to become a source of authority in its own right and appears to regard itself as a parallel government that can intervene in the democratically elected Government's policymaking process, like during the Treaty Principles Bill debate.
'It's time to put the Tribunal in its place.
'We also need to define in law what the Treaty principles mean so that the Treaty is interpreted and applied in a manner that reflects what it actually says: all New Zealanders have the same rights and duties.
"The Tribunal's recent conduct is one reason why we need the Treaty Principles Bill. While some politicians weren't ready for that debate, ACT will continue pushing for all New Zealanders to be equal before the law, not a partnership between races.'
Seymour's controversial Treaty Principles Bill, which was voted down last month, was a bid to clarify and define the principles of the Treaty.
Jones said "we are not going to have unelected, irresponsible and quite frankly, people who have decided to wander and explore well beyond the original writ of the Waitangi Tribunal.
"So stand by, it's going to be reviewed, legislation is going to be developed before the next election. The Waitangi Tribunal is going to be made match fit, but not for the pursuits that the current leadership and echo chamber around the Tribunal believe it should do."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Climate Legal Action Necessary Response To Govt Inaction
Press Release – NZCTU We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act, said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the legal action taken against the Minister of Climate Change by a coalition of legal experts as an important step in ensuring that Aotearoa meets its climate action obligations. 'We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act,' said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. 'The union movement is deeply concerned by the Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-2030, which contains no significant policies to reduce emissions and will fail to get New Zealand meaningfully closer to our 2050 net-zero commitment. 'The actions – or lack of them – by this Government on climate change are the actions of climate deniers, not responsible leaders. 'Workers and communities need real political leadership that combats global emissions and invests in creating a just transition for industries and workers. We need leadership that develops and upholds long term consensus, not more U-turns. 'Instead, we have a government that cancelled 35 climate policies without consulting the public first, as required by law. Robust public engagement is essential. 'Climate policy is yet another area where this Government is prioritising corporate interests over democratic accountability and the interests of working people. 'Evidence is clear that a near-total focus on tree planting through vast pine forests is not a sufficient response – we must reduce emissions at source. 'Alongside the weak emissions budget, in Budget 2025 we saw a total abdication of responsibility on climate change and ensuring a Just Transition for working people in an increasingly volatile world. 'The NZCTU supports bold climate action to reduce emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and transition to a zero emissions economy that provides full employment for workers,' said Wagstaff.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
ACT MP Welcomes Changes To Anti-Stalking Bill, Calls For Urgent Action On Newer Forms Of Abuse
Press Release – ACT New Zealand Patterns of abusive behaviour deserve to be recognised by the law, and these changes will help victims seek justice, ACT MP Laura McClure. ACT MP Laura McClure is welcoming changes made at select committee to strengthen the proposed anti-stalking law, but says more must be done to protect New Zealanders from modern forms of digital abuse, particularly sexually explicit deepfakes. 'I'm pleased to see the Government respond to public concern about stalking with more robust and practical legislation,' says McClure. 'Patterns of abusive behaviour deserve to be recognised by the law, and these changes will help victims seek justice. 'But we can't stop here. As technology evolves, so do the tools of harassment and abuse. Sexually explicit AI-generated deepfakes made without consent are a fast-growing threat, especially to young people and women. 'I have a members' bill in the ballot that would create a specific offence for the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfake content. This should be adopted as a Government Bill. 'Deepfakes are harming real people today, and the law is failing to keep up. 'The same commitment to protecting stalking victims should extend to those targeted by synthetic sexual abuse. We need clear, targeted laws so police can act, courts can prosecute, and victims can get justice.'
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Legal Experts Sue Climate Minister Over Glaring Holes In Emissions Plan
Press Release – Lawyers for Climate Action Lawyers for Climate Action NZ and co-applicant the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) allege the Governments plan fails to meet key requirements of the Climate Change Response Act. A coalition of legal experts has launched major legal proceedings against the Minister of Climate Change, alleging that the Government's emissions reduction plan fails to fulfil basic requirements of the law. 'Under the Climate Change Response Act, the Government has to put in place a credible emissions reduction plan for Aotearoa that will meet our climate targets and set us up for success,' says Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc Executive Director Jessica Palairet. 'Yet, in the face of warnings from our Climate Change Commission that there are 'significant risks' around whether New Zealand will meet its climate targets, the plan misses the mark. It takes a high-risk, forestry-led approach to emissions reductions. Our law requires more.' Lawyers for Climate Action NZ and co-applicant the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) allege the Government's plan fails to meet key requirements of the Climate Change Response Act. 'As it stands, the Government's emissions reduction plan will carry huge consequences for our country. We don't take this step lightly, but the plan needs to be challenged,' says Ms Palairet. Under the Climate Change Response Act, governments must set an emissions reduction plan every five years. These plans outline economy-wide policies and strategies for meeting corresponding emissions budgets – which are stepping stones towards achieving our 2050 net-zero target. In 2024, the Government published the second emissions reduction plan, which will be operative from 2026 – 2030. Lawyers for Climate Action NZ and ELI challenge decisions relating to both the first emissions reduction plan (2021-2025) and the second emissions reduction plan (2026-2030). ELI's director, research and legal, Dr Matt Hall says 'the Government cancelled 35 climate policies and actions which were part of the first emissions reduction plan – without consulting the public first, as required by law. It then put in place a second emissions reduction plan which is almost devoid of actions or policies for reducing emissions at their source.' The NGOs allege that the second emissions reduction plan is unlikely to ensure emissions stay within the budget, has an unrealistic approach to risk management, and assumes that 95% of the planned emissions reductions will occur by themselves without policies or strategies. Instead of focusing on reducing emissions at source, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts instead relied heavily on offsetting the country's emissions with forestry plantations. 'This was despite warnings from the Climate Change Commission that tree planting is no substitute for reducing emissions at source. It locks-in vast pine plantations for future generations, and runs up against our obligations under the Paris Agreement. The science is clear that forestry is important, but it's not a substitute for reducing our combustion of fossil fuels,' says Dr Hall. Dr Hall says the Minister was required to publish a sufficiently detailed plan that could assure the public New Zealand will meet its emissions budget. The Government's plan does not give confidence; in our view, it is neither credible nor capable of achieving the purpose, which is to reduce emissions'. Lawyers for Climate Action NZ's Jessica Palairet says, 'The Minister has made the pathway for achieving the third emissions budget incredibly difficult. Left unchallenged, it will be a huge burden for the future.' 'We believe it is necessary to take this case to protect the interests of the public now and in the future, and to test these important legal provisions for the first time.' The application for judicial review has been filed with the High Court and is awaiting a court date. Notes:
