Summarised by Centrist
The coalition government has confirmed it will review the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 and the role of the Waitangi Tribunal, citing a need to clarify the Tribunal’s purpose and jurisdiction.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said the review was “timely” given the progress of historic settlements and the Tribunal’s expanding workload.
“This will ensure the Tribunal continues to effectively meet the intent of the legislation,” he said, framing the review as a necessary recalibration rather than a dismantling.
An Independent Technical Advisory Group chaired by KC Bruce Gray will oversee the process, with input from Te Puni Kōkiri. It will assess how the Act handles various claim types, the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, and its interaction with other laws.
ACT leader David Seymour said the review was overdue. “It’s tried to become a source of authority in its own right and appears to regard itself as a parallel government,” he said, referencing the Tribunal’s opposition to recent government decisions like the Treaty Principles Bill and Māori Health Authority closure. “It’s time to put the Tribunal in its place.”
Labour’s Willie Jackson called it “unnecessary and in bad faith,” warning it could expose the Crown to legal risk by weakening settlement obligations. The Greens described it as “an attack on Te Tiriti,” while Te Pāti Māori accused the Government of trying to “control the narrative of our dispossession.”
