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what the parties will do about
Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Governance
The Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi with Māori in 1840 before pretending to forget all about it for over a century. A foundational constitutional document, the Treaty carries its own obligations and is significant to all questions of governance, including the make-up of Parliament.
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;" class="bgcolor">Labour
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Save thisProtect Māori rights and interests in fisheries(...)Why
Labour believes that Māori have rights and responsibilities in all sectors of New Zealand’s fisheries. Upholding the Treaty principles requires these interests to be respected when making trade-offs between fishing sectors.
HowLabour would work with Māori fisheries and stakeholders to ensure that the full range of Māori rights and interests in fisheries and the marine environment can be exercised in an integrated manner consistent with the Māori Fisheries Settlement.
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Save thisWork with iwi to resolve Treaty water claims(...)Why
Labour believes that our rivers and lakes are a taonga of huge significance to Māori. Everyone owns our water, but some have interests in it that others don’t, such as Māori. Treaty claims over water should be resolved in a way that respects iwi’s mana and restores the mauri of the rivers and lakes.
HowLabour would work with iwi to resolve Treaty water claims.
;" class="bgcolor">TOP
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Save thisOppose attempts to remove Māori electorates(...)Why
The Opportunities Party opposes any attempts to reduce Māori representation in Parliament. It would not be a part of any government that intended to reduce or remove Māori representation and would oppose a referendum on the Māori electorate seats.
HowThe Opportunities Party would oppose attempts to remove Māori electorates. This is the party’s only bottom line this election.
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Save thisEstablish an Upper House of Parliament with equal Māori representation(...)Why
The Opportunities Party believes that the Treaty gives Māori and non-Māori the right to rangatiratanga (self determination). Self-determination for Māori would be supported by establishing an Upper House of Parliament with equal Māori representation.
An Upper House should ensure the House of Representatives acts consistently with the principles of the Treaty without creating division.
HowThe Opportunities Party would establish an Upper House of Parliament with equal Māori representation.
The Upper House would not have a power to veto law passed by the Lower House, but could recommend that it reconsider laws, especially where it thinks constitutional rights are at risk.
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Save thisCreate a written constitution which honours the Treaty of Waitangi(...)Why
The Opportunities Party believes that a written constitution is an opportunity to provide a central reference to New Zealand’s values.
This should support a better understanding of the common principles that define New Zealand, and prevent rights being overridden by politicians in future. It should also honour the Treaty of Waitangi, which is New Zealand’s founding constitutional document.
HowThe Opportunities Party would develop a written constitution that honours the Treaty of Waitangi.
The constitution would be a statement of principles in plain English and would include obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, and the rights of nature to exist and flourish.
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Save thisResolve Treaty claims over water ownership(...)Why
The Opportunities Party believes that both National and Labour have refused to make meaningful progress on the issue of water ownership and that this failure is largely to blame for the current disputes over water ownership rights.
HowThe Opportunities Party would seek to resolve issues over water ownership with due regard to the provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi. This would be a precondition for establishing a commercial model for water.
;" class="bgcolor">National
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Save thisContinue to conclude Treaty settlements(...)Why
National believes that the National Government has made significant process on Treaty settlements.Concluding these settlements is an important step towards settling historical grievances, and contributes to a stronger economic and cultural future for the iwi.
HowNational would continue to conclude Treaty settlements with all willing and able iwi.
;" class="bgcolor">Green
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Save thisEntrench Māori electorates and oppose any referendum on them(...)Why
The Green Party believes that the te reo Māori text of Te Tiriti o Waitangi affirms that Māori did not cede their tino rangatiratanga to the Crown.
Māori electorates and Māori wards in local government are therefore important, because they guarantee that there are Māori representatives who are directly accountable to Māori voters. Entrenching the Māori electorates should protect their constitutional status and importance.
HowThe Green Party would entrench the Māori electorates so that only a 75 percent vote of Parliament could remove them. They would oppose any referendum on the Māori electorates.
The Green Party would also change the Māori Electoral Option to provide greater flexibility for people to change between the Māori and general rolls.
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Save thisAllow local councils to establish Māori wards without holding a public poll(...)Why
The Green Party believes that the te reo Māori text of Te Tiriti o Waitangi affirms that Māori did not cede their tino rangatiratanga to the Crown. Māori wards in local government are therefore important because they guarantee Māori representatives who are directly accountable to Māori voters.
Currently, a public poll must be held if a local council wants to create a Māori ward and 5 per cent of the voting public request the poll. This is different to general wards, which are decided by directly by councils. The Green Party believes this is an unfair double standard.
HowThe Green Party would remove the ability for the public to override a council decision to create a Māori ward.
The Greens would also require councils to consider, at least once every six years, whether to establish Māori wards and Māori constituencies.
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Save thisEnd the requirement for the Crown to negotiate full and final Treaty settlements(...)Why
The Green Party believes that the Treaty settlement process could be more just, fair and durable. At the moment, the full and final settlement requirement has the potential to cause further Treaty breaches if circumstances change or groups are shut out of negotiations.
Removing the requirement for full and final settlements should prevent injustice and new breaches of the Treaty.
HowThe Green Party would end the requirement of the Crown to negotiate full and final settlements.
The Green Party supports non-financial options for restitution and reconciliation, such as Crown apologies.
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Save thisReform the Treaty settlement negotiations approach to protect hapū and smaller iwi(...)Why
The Green Party believes that the current rules around settlement claims can have negative impacts on hapū and iwi. Sometimes when the original claimant doesn’t consent to negotiating with the Crown, the Crown negotiates with others. This is unfair to the original claimant.
Removing the requirement for the Crown to negotiate only with large and natural groups should include hapū and smaller iwi in the claims processes. It should also solve the problem of claims being settled against the original claimant’s wishes.
HowThe Green Party would remove the requirement for the Crown to negotiate only with large and natural groups.
The Green Party would also stop claims from being settled without the agreement of the original claimant, and require the government to go ahead with settlements where there is full hapū support.
;" class="bgcolor">NZ First
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Save thisHold a referendum on Māori seats(...)Why
New Zealand First believes there representation for Māori has improved under MMP. This calls into question the need for guaranteed seats for Māori in Parliament.
Holding a referendum on Māori seats should determine whether they are necessary anymore.
HowNew Zealand First would hold a binding referendum on whether to retain or abolish the Māori seats in Parliament.
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Save thisRemove the requirement to consult iwi from the Resource Management Act(...)Why
New Zealand First believes that water is common property and should be owned by all New Zealanders equally.
But the National Government is spreading iwi ownership including by involving iwi in local government decision-making for policy statements and resource plans. And the Waikato Regional Council has recognised and provided for iwi rights and interests in freshwater.
New Zealand First believes these developments puts iwi rights and interests above other people’s, and are holding back development. This must be opposed.
HowNew Zealand First would repeal all provisions in the Resource Management Act that require consultation with iwi, including for water consents and discharge consents.
New Zealand First also opposes other recognition of iwi rights and interests in freshwater.
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Save thisSettle all outstanding Treaty claims(...)Why
New Zealand First believes in a fair go for all New Zealanders and this includes settling genuine historical grievances. The Waitangi Tribunal should fully, fairly and finally complete the settlement of all outstanding Treaty claims.
HowNew Zealand First would continue to support the completion the settlement of all outstanding Treaty claims.
;" class="bgcolor">Māori Party
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Save thisEntrench Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all legislation(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of Aoteaoroa. The Government has an obligation to honour and protect the rights of Māori guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
But at the moment, not enough is being done to ensure that all New Zealand law honours the terms of Te Tiriti.
HowThe Māori Party would entrench Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all legislation.
This would mean that all laws passed by Parliament would have to be interpreted consistently with the te reo Māori version of Te Tiriti.
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Save thisGive freshwater the status of tāonga under law(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that as kaitiaki of this country Māori have a responsibility to protect water. Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi also requires hapū and iwi to be involved in decisions about the management of environmental resources as kaitiaki and tangata whenua.
HowThe Māori Party would change the law so that freshwater is a tāonga with legal protection.
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Save thisEmpower the Waitangi Tribunal to make binding recommendations(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of Aoteaoroa. The Government therefore has an obligation to honour and protect the rights of Māori guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
But at the moment, the Waitangi Tribunal can only recommend actions. This leaves room for government, organisations, businesses and other groups to act inconsistently with Te Tiriti.
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Save thisEntrench Māori electoral seats(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of Aoteaoroa. The Government has an obligation to honour and protect the rights of Māori guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including Māori participation in governance of Aotearoa.
The Māori electorate seats are a birthright of Māori and only Māori should get to decide whether they should be abolished or kept.
HowThe Māori Party would entrench the Māori seats in Parliament. Only Māori would be able to decide to abolish them.
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Save thisStrengthen Māori representation in local government(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of Aoteaoroa. The government has an obligation to honour and protect the rights of Māori guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including Māori participation in governance of Aotearoa.
Currently, while some local governments have Māori representation, a public poll must be held if a local council wants to create a Māori ward and 5 per cent of the voting public request the poll. This is different to general wards, which are decided directly by councils.
Establishing fairer Māori representation in all local government is essential to upholding the terms of Te Tiriti and should give Māori a proper say in matters of local governance.
HowThe Māori Party would remove the ability for the public to override a council decision to create a Māori ward.
The Māori Party would also change the law to require Māori seats on all local government and on District Health Boards as of right.
what the parties will do about
Te Reo Māori
Te reo Māori is the first language of Aotearoa. While relatively few of us can speak it, more schools teach it, more media uses it and the population as a whole is learning more about it. Te reo Māori is a taonga under te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Crown is responsible for supporting it to thrive.
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;" class="bgcolor">Māori Party
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Save thisMake te reo Māori and Māori history and culture core curriculum subjects in all schools(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that the revival of te reo Māori must be accelerated. It is is the cornerstone of all that is Māori and its survival will enhance the uniqueness of Māori as a people.
Mainstream classrooms should speak the language of tupuna and should include Māori ways of knowing in the curriculum. Doing so should ensure that Māori students could take pride in their culture and history, helping them achieve academically.
HowThe Māori Party would make te re Māori and Māori history and culture core curriculum subjects in all schools up to year 10.
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Save thisFund two years’ full time te reo Māori study for one person in every non-reo speaking whānau(...)Why
The Māori Party believes in a proud, bilingual Aotearoa that supports Māori culture, language and Māori identity to flourish. Too few people speak te reo, and some whānau have no reo-speaking members.
Funding te reo Māori study for people from whānau with no reo-speaking members should help te reo be more widely known and understood.
HowThe Māori Party would establish a fund to pay for one person in every non-reo speaking whānau to study te reo Māori full time for two years at an approved reo wānanga or institute.
The fund would pay for tuition, course related fees and an allowance of up to $500 per week to study.
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Save thisIncrease funding for kōhanga reo(...)Why
The Māori Party believes that the revival of te reo Māori must be accelerated. Te reo is the cornerstone of all that is Māori and is vital to ensuring Māori are successful in education.
Increasing support for kōhanga reo should allow more tamariki to attend and benefit from Māori education.
HowThe Māori Party would increase funding for kōhanga reo, the Māori immersion early childhood education centre, to provide funding parity with Early Childhood Education providers.
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Save thisAim for one million te reo Māori speaks by 2040(...)Why
The Māori Party believes in a proud, bilingual Aotearoa that supports Māori culture, language and Māori identity to flourish.
HowThe Māori Party would aim for one million te reo speakers by 2040.
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Save thisMake signage in towns and cities bilingual(...)Why
The Māori Party believes in a proud, bilingual Aotearoa that supports Māori culture, language and Māori identity to flourish. Making signs bilingual should help te reo to be more widely known and understood.
HowThe Māori Party would make signage in towns and cities bilingual.
Signage in Rotorua, Ōtaki and Wairoa would be made bilingual first.
;" class="bgcolor">TOP
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Save thisMake te reo Māori compulsory in all schools(...)Why
The Opportunities Party believes that te reo Māori should be given the same rights as English. It is an official language of New Zealand and it is vitally important to a thorough understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Teaching the language in all schools is necessary to uphold the duty of care that pākehā owe to Māori.
HowTOP would make make te reo Māori compulsory in all schools.
;" class="bgcolor">National
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Save thisIncrease funding for te reo Māori education(...)Why
National believes that if students are more likely to succeed and remain engaged in learning if their identity, language and culture are supported throughout their education.
Funding te re Māori curriculum resources should ensure the around 180,000 young people who participate in te reo have the proper services, supporting educational success for Māori students.
HowNational would increase funding for te reo Māori curriculum resources.
$7.6 million was allocated for this for over four years under Budget 2017. This also allocated $1.7 million to supporting the Boards of Trustees of Māori medium schools.