ACT Party leader David Seymour says the Waitangi Tribunal’s recent focus on citizenship for Māori born overseas risks creating new divisions, rather than uniting the country.
This week, the Tribunal heard arguments over whether Māori born outside Aotearoa should have different citizenship rights, including a claim from Ngāpuhi descendant John Bryers Ruddock, whose children were born overseas and are currently classed as overstayers.
Internal Affairs Minister, ACT’s Brooke van Velden says she will not reopen the Citizenship Act 1977 and insists citizenship requirements apply equally to all applicants
Seymour warns that calls for special rules based on whakapapa could undermine democratic values.
“You’ve now got people saying, oh, that there should be different rules. You should automatically have the same rights as some other countries do if you’re Māori, but not if you’re not Māori. I just say, look, is this the Waitangi Tribunal constructively approaching an issue, or is it actually trying to create a division between New Zealanders based on whether some of your ancestors were Māori or not?” says Seymour.
Meanwhile, an Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) chaired by Bruce Gray KC and including Dion Tuuta and Kararaina Calcott-Cribb is reviewing the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 and the Tribunal’s powers.
The group will provide advice to ministers, including NZ First’s Shane Jones, by September, with legislative proposals expected before the end of the year.
