Te Pāti Māori says the Government’s reported decision to remove Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements from New Zealand’s new resource management system represents another significant erosion of Treaty-based partnerships and Māori participation in decisions affecting the environment.
Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has criticised the move, arguing it goes beyond planning reform and reflects a broader shift in the Crown’s relationship with tangata whenua.
The Government has indicated that existing and future Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements will not continue under the replacement Resource Management Act framework, instead introducing more narrowly scoped iwi participation agreements as part of its wider overhaul of environmental legislation.
Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements were established under the Resource Management Act to provide a statutory framework for councils and iwi to work together on matters relating to resource management. The agreements set out processes for engagement, information sharing, planning and dispute resolution but do not transfer decision-making authority from councils to iwi.
Ngarewa-Packer questioned the rationale behind removing the agreements, arguing that if there is evidence the framework has failed, it should be made public.
She said the agreements have provided practical mechanisms for recognising Te Tiriti o Waitangi within local government planning and environmental management, particularly in decisions involving whenua, wai and other taonga.
Te Pāti Māori argues the decision forms part of a wider pattern of policy changes that have reduced Māori participation across several areas of public life, including health, environmental management and public sector decision-making.
The party says strong partnerships between councils and tangata whenua are essential to effective planning and sustainable resource management, warning that removing established pathways for collaboration risks creating greater conflict rather than improving efficiency.
The Government has defended the reforms, saying the new planning system is designed to simplify consenting processes, reduce costs and accelerate housing, infrastructure and economic development while continuing to provide opportunities for iwi engagement through new participation agreements and Treaty settlement obligations.
Resource Management Reform Minister Chris Bishop has maintained that Māori will continue to have a role in planning decisions under the new framework, but that the current system has become overly complex and requires significant reform to improve certainty and reduce delays.
The proposed reforms are contained within the Government’s Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, which together will replace the Resource Management Act 1991.
The changes have attracted criticism from a range of organisations, including environmental groups and Māori advocates, who argue they could weaken environmental protections and diminish the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within planning law.
For many iwi and hapū, environmental management is closely connected to kaitiakitanga, whakapapa and long-standing Treaty settlement commitments that recognise relationships with whenua, awa, moana and culturally significant sites.
The debate over Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements has become one of the most contentious aspects of the Government’s environmental reform programme, highlighting broader questions about how Te Tiriti partnership should be reflected in modern legislation.
As Parliament continues considering the new resource management framework, the future role of Māori in environmental decision-making is expected to remain a central political issue in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election.
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