Tiriti o (Treaty of) Waitangi - Policy Summary

Read the full Tirito o Waitangi Policy

Key Principles

The Green Party:

• Affirms that te Tiriti o Waitangi remains a living and fundamental constitutional document.

• Acknowledges the indigenous language version of te Tiriti as the legitimate text.
• Supports the resolution of, and restitution for, all outstanding historical and contemporary breaches of te Tiriti by the Crown and its representatives.
• Believes there is a need for an ongoing dialogue around te Tiriti.

Policy Highlights

• A public information and awareness programme on te Tiriti o Waitangi.

• The development of a time frame for the lodging of settlement claims, with the intention of vigorously moving the process forward while not sacrificing fairness.
• Adequate resources, people, money and information for the claims process, and for claimants to properly prepare their claims.
• Widespread Maori support is needed for any deadline for lodging and settling claims, and if a deadline is set, there must be mutual agreement between Maori and the Crown.
• All claimants to have the opportunity to have their land and resources returned to them.
• Increased resources for the Waitangi Tribunal; increased transparency and accountability.
• Support Maori initiatives in the areas of justice, health and education.
• Ensure that Maori have a partnernship role in determining immigration policy.
• Entrenchment of the Maori seats so there is guaranteed representation for Maori in Parliament.
• Enable Maori voters to change from the General to the Maori roll, or vice versa, at any time.
• Guaranteed tangata whenua participation in local governance.
• An ongoing dialogue on how shared guardianship can be developed to protect and enhance our natural heritage.
• The role of hapu as kaitiaki of their rohe must be recognised and strengthened.