A recent review, supported by post-settlement iwi like Ngāti Toa rangatira, highlights the problem clearly: There is poor planning, vague leadership, and expanding risk when it comes
to how the crown engages with iwi. Most telling is the concern raised by Ngāti Toa themselves — questioning the crown’s accountability in these arrangements.
For years, Treaty Principles have been used as a loose framework for shaping public policy. But what started as a good-faith effort to address historical wrongs has evolved into an open-ended
mandate, increasingly interpreted without public consultation or democratic limits. Local bodies and government departments now struggle to navigate their responsibilities, while the public is left in the dark.
The Treaty Principles Bill brings much-needed definition. It ensures parliament remains sovereign and that all New Zealanders — māori and non-māori — are treated fairly.
critics may frame it as a rollback, but that’s a misreading. This is about clarity, not denial.
The bill simply puts structure around a process that has become increasingly opaque.
If we want a treaty framework that endures, it must be built on clear expectations, democratic accountability, and mutual respect — not confusion and unchecked bureaucratic expansion.
Steven is an entrepreneur and an ex RNZN diver who likes travelling, renovating Houses, Swiss Watches, history, chocolate art and art deco.
7 comments:
Simple really and should have been dealt with in house-a referendum shouldn’t have been needed.
These Principles commit all NZers into perpetually paying redress for the now perceived wrong actions of long dead generations to all future generations of part Maori.
It has to stop, and Luxon could stop this today if he had the inclination or gonads - he has neither, so he has to be replaced by someone who can envisage the future division.
There are no principles in the TOW.
Inventing some is asking for trouble.
Legislated references to treaty principles in various statutes have already been invented.
The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 was the first piece of legislation to explicitly mention the Treaty principles
Other examples: Examples:
The Conservation Act 1987, the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986, the Resource Management Act 1991, and the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 are examples of Acts that incorporate Treaty principles.
Meanwhile the GGT (Grievance Gravy Train) gathers steam and keeps rolling along while dim witted politicians are too scared to stop it, in case they offend someone
The “invented principles” were easy when using the 1841 False Fake Fraudulent Freeman English version of the treaty that does not agree with the ORIGINAL Maori language treaty.
This FAKE English version, being deliberately used EXCLUDES “all the people of New Zealand”, therefore, it’s meaning conveyed and grabbed onto is, we are the chosen ones, it all ours, we want it back and we’re taking over. Then they got Kawharu to “reinvent” a back translation from the original and then made up “principles” to marry the two Fakes together.
Compare this to the 1840 Final Draft, the 1840 Maori language treaty (The Treaty) and the 1869 official back translation, which INCLUDES “all the people of New Zealand” and the meaning conveyed, or the overriding principle is, “we are now one people, under one treaty, one flag and one law. Hence, Hobson’s- He iwi tahi taou
Anon@12.23 clearly you don't appreciate that horse has long since bolted thanks to our politicians that invented this nonsense. Either such is removed from all legislation - fat chance, or they must be defined as simply as possible. Seymour's original was a very elegant and appropriate solution.
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