Prominent Māori health advocate Lady Tureiti Moxon has raised serious concerns over the Government’s proposed Treaty principles reforms, warning the changes could significantly weaken Te Tiriti o Waitangi protections within New Zealand’s health system.
Lady Moxon, a claimant in the WAI 3565 urgent inquiry, says the Government’s move to amend Treaty obligations across legislation represents a major shift in Crown responsibilities toward Māori.
Central to concerns is the proposed change from requiring public agencies to “give effect to” Treaty principles, to a lesser obligation to simply “take into account” those principles. Critics argue the shift could reduce the weight given to Māori interests in policy development, funding decisions and service delivery across the public sector.
The concerns are particularly acute within the health sector, where Te Tiriti obligations have underpinned efforts to address longstanding inequities experienced by Māori. Under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) framework, Treaty-based commitments have been embedded in planning and accountability mechanisms aimed at improving Māori health outcomes.
Health advocates fear the reforms could weaken those commitments at a time when Māori continue to experience poorer health outcomes than non-Māori across a range of indicators, including life expectancy, chronic disease and access to healthcare services.
Questions have also been raised about the future of Māori–Crown partnerships and accountability arrangements if Treaty clauses are standardised across legislation. Opponents of the reforms argue that applying a uniform approach to Treaty provisions may overlook the specific obligations and relationships established within different sectors, including health.
The proposed changes have attracted criticism from iwi leaders, legal experts and public officials, many of whom have expressed concern about the speed of the legislative process and the limited consultation undertaken before the reforms were advanced.
Calls are growing for stronger safeguards to ensure Te Tiriti obligations remain protected in law, with advocates urging the Government to engage directly with Māori stakeholders and uphold partnership principles when considering future legislative changes.
The debate is expected to remain a significant focus for Māori health providers and iwi organisations as the reforms continue through Parliament, with many warning the outcome could have lasting implications for Māori health equity and Crown accountability.
