Health advocate and Te Kōhao Health Chair Lady Tureiti Moxon is raising fundamental questions about the future of Crown accountability as debate continues over the role and powers of the Waitangi Tribunal.
The Government began a review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act in 2025, saying it wanted to refocus the scope, purpose and nature of Tribunal inquiries and examine its jurisdiction and management of claims. The Government has said the review is intended to ensure the Tribunal remains effective and fit for purpose.
Lady Moxon says proposals to abolish the Tribunal or significantly restrict its ability to investigate Crown conduct would raise a much bigger constitutional question — who independently holds the Crown to account when Māori believe government decisions breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi?
The debate comes as the Government separately moves to change Treaty references across legislation. In May, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced decisions affecting 19 laws, including repealing seven Treaty-principles references and changing others, with consultation with iwi and a select committee process to follow.
For Lady Moxon, the issue goes beyond the future of one institution and reaches into the relationship between kāwanatanga and tino rangatiratanga, the ability of Māori to challenge Crown actions, and the mechanisms available to independently examine whether the Crown is meeting its Te Tiriti responsibilities.
Lady Moxon joins Radio Waatea to discuss what weakening or removing the Tribunal could mean for Māori, Crown accountability and the future of the Te Tiriti relationship.
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