New Zealand First has announced its intention to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal if the party becomes part of the government following the next election. The party plans to introduce legislation within the first 100 days to replace the tribunal with a new entity, the Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission.
The proposed commission would prioritize finalizing Treaty-related claims that were lodged before 2008, effectively ending the tribunal’s work after these claims are addressed. New Zealand First contends that the tribunal has extended beyond its original mandate and expressed concerns about its involvement in claims related to legislation enacted by Parliament.
In its proposal, the party also suggested that issues concerning the implementation of existing Treaty of Waitangi settlements should be managed by a strengthened Ministry of Māori Development. This move is part of New Zealand First’s broader approach to streamline and conclude historical Treaty claims.
The Waitangi Tribunal has long been an integral part of New Zealand’s efforts to address grievances stemming from the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs. The tribunal has been pivotal in investigating claims by Māori that the Treaty has been breached, often involving land disputes and other resource-related issues.
New Zealand First’s proposal to reform this process reflects its perspective that the current system may be overreaching its intended scope. The party’s stance is likely to spur debate about the future of Treaty settlements and the role of government bodies in addressing historical injustices.