April 19, 2024
Māori lawyers chafe at Jones’ Waitangi Tribunal slam
The Māori Law Society Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa has complained to the Prime Minister about Minister Shane Jones’ comments on Radio Waatea about the Waitangi Tribunal.
In response to the tribunal’s decision to subpoena Children’s Minister Karen Chhuor to appear at its urgent inquiry into the repeal of section 7aa of the Oranga Tamariki Act , Mr Jones said it has no business running its operations as some sort of star chamber demanding ministers rock up and be cross-examined.
Crown Law is currently challenging that subpoena.
Society president Natalie Coates says the minister’s comments breach the principle of the separation of powers and the Cabinet Manual.
The manual says ministers must exercise judgement before commenting on matters before the courts or judicial decisions.
She says Mr Jones’ comments directly bring into question the performance of the Waitangi Tribunal, an independent Commission of Inquiry established by legislation that serves a function akin to a Court and over which a judge presides.
The society wants to meet with the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Cabinet Office to discuss the alleged breach.