January 25, 2024
Government to proceed with review of Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Chris Luxon has confirmed a review of the Waitangi Tribunal.
The coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First 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.
As the historic claims process nears its end, the tribunal has embarked on a series of kaupapa inquiries looking at whether crown actions in areas like health, justice and women’s rights were in breach of the treaty.
Mr Luxon says the time is right for a review.
“As we come to the end of Treaty settlements this is a legitimate question others have asked in the past, whether it be (former National attorney general) Christopher Finlayson or others, of what the future role of the Tribunal should be and how it could be repurposed and what the focus of it should be. That is a legitimate, reasonable question any government of any colour should be thinking about in the context of post treaty settlements,” he says.
Mr Luxon says existing treaty settlements will be honoured by the new Government.
The coalition agreement included a commitment for a comprehensive review of all legislation (except when it is related to existing full and final Treaty settlements) that includes ‘The Principles ofthe Treaty of Waitangi” and replace all such references with specific words relating to the relevance and application of the Treaty, or repeal the references.