April 24, 2024
Jackson defends tribunal as crown challenges scope
Former Māori development minister Willie Jackson says the Waitangi Tribunal has brought great change for Māori and New Zealand over its 50 years despite almost constant criticism.
Today the High Court will rule on whether the tribunal has the power for force Children’s Minister Karen Chhour to appear before it on Friday to explain her reasons for repealing section 7aa of the Oranga Tamariki Act.
Tha’s the section setting our her ministry’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi to uphold mana tamariki and attempt to ensure Māori children are place with whanau.
Mr Jackson says he’s proud of the tribunal’s impact, even though in most claims it only has powers of recommendation.
“Tribunal has investigated the impact of us not having our reo. And you’ve seen the influence that they’ve had in terms of Māori broadcasting, Māori health, our Māori education has been huge. It’s not just about Treaty settlements, it’s about all the impacts of colonization. These are the areas that the tribunal have investigated,” he says.