Minister Tama Potaka Unaware of Plans to Remove Treaty Clause from Resource Management Act

Claudette Hauiti Tama Potaka | Minister Tama Potaka Unaware of Plans to Remove Treaty Clause from Resource Management Act

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Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka was unaware of plans to remove the Treaty of Waitangi principles clause from the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced changes to speed up infrastructure projects, including the removal of the Treaty clause.

Potaka says he did not know about these plans, even though Cabinet approved them.

“There’s a whole range of things going on around treaty principles. I’d have to talk with Chris Bishop about what exactly he means. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Potaka.

The removal of Treaty clauses is part of the NZ First-National coalition deal.

The RMA has included the Treaty clause since its introduction in 1991 under National’s Jim Bolger.

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