Labour leader Chris Hipkins says New Zealand needs a government focused on solving the country’s biggest challenges rather than “picking fights with people”, signalling that a Labour-led government would take a markedly different approach to its relationship with Māori, constitutional issues and public policy.
Speaking about the direction of the country, Hipkins argued the Government has become distracted by divisive debates instead of concentrating on the cost of living, healthcare, education and economic growth. He said a future Labour government would slow the pace of change where necessary and work to rebuild trust between communities, iwi and the Crown.
A central part of that message was Labour’s continued support for the role of the Waitangi Tribunal, which Hipkins described as an important constitutional institution established to examine whether Crown actions are consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
His comments follow the Tribunal’s findings that aspects of the Government’s Treaty reform agenda breached Treaty principles, caused prejudice to Māori and risked damaging the relationship between Māori and the Crown. The Tribunal warned that weakening Treaty obligations could have long-term constitutional consequences and undermine confidence in the partnership established under Te Tiriti.
Hipkins says the Tribunal plays an important role in providing independent scrutiny of government decisions and helping to ensure Treaty obligations are properly considered. He indicated that a government led by Labour would seek to restore constructive engagement with Māori rather than continue what he characterised as confrontational politics.
The Labour leader also defended his party’s decision to support legislation recognising English as an official language, a move that has generated significant debate.
Critics argued the legislation risked diminishing the standing of te reo Māori, which has held official language status since 1987, while supporters maintained the Bill simply recognised the practical reality that English is the country’s most widely spoken language.
Hipkins rejected suggestions that Labour’s support represented a retreat from its commitment to te reo Māori or bilingualism. He argued that recognising English did not reduce the legal status or importance of te reo Māori or New Zealand Sign Language, both of which remain official languages protected under existing legislation.
The issue has nevertheless become another flashpoint in wider debates over national identity, language policy and the place of Te Tiriti in modern New Zealand.
Labour’s position reflects an attempt to balance recognition of English as the country’s predominant language while maintaining support for the revitalisation of te reo Māori and the institutions established under Treaty settlements and legislation.
As the election campaign gathers pace, Hipkins is positioning Labour as a party seeking to lower the political temperature after months of heated debate over Treaty issues, constitutional reform and Māori-Crown relations.
His message is that New Zealand’s next government should focus less on ideological battles and more on rebuilding relationships, restoring confidence in public institutions and addressing the everyday pressures facing whānau across the country.
Whether that message resonates with voters will become clearer as political parties continue to outline their competing visions for the future of Aotearoa.
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