Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Together we can build a future where everyone, regardless of their background or where they grew up, is a respected part of a vibrant, connected community and country. Where everyone feels a sense of belonging and knows their children will have what they need to thrive.

We already have a blueprint to make this future a reality. Te Tiriti o Waitangi guides us to live peacefully and respectfully together.(1)

In recent decades, we’ve seen a growing understanding of the importance of honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including amongst tauiwi (non-Māori).(2) Many of us have experienced the benefits of Māori leadership and changes which reflect Te Tiriti commitments to work together and share decision making on important issues. We value the development of respectful and reciprocal relationships between tāngata whenua and tāngata Tiriti (people of Te Tiriti). Through these relationships we are better able to care for our land and waterways, improve the care we receive in our health system, and to build an education system that values the unique strengths of all of our tamariki (young people).(3)

We’ve seen important steps taken and we know that there is still much more to do.

Since it was signed, people in successive governments have breached what was agreed to in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. They've created laws, policies, and decision-making processes that harm whānau, hapū and iwi. The actions by the kāwanatanga (Government) – controlling decision-making, suppression of language, culture and tikanga, and alienation of land - have created intergenerational harms and injustices, and damaged relationships.

We are seeing a continuation of this harm in the actions of the members of parliament in the new coalition Government. They are undermining efforts for a healthier, more unified society for future generations by removing or rewriting legislative Te Tiriti commitments, restricting the use of te reo Māori, repealing laws and withdrawing funding from initiatives that seek to heal and rebalance inequities caused by colonisation. Whilst spouting racist rhetoric with the aim of dividing us from each other.

These actions reach far beyond this current Government's mandate. They don’t align with the unity and respect for each other that most people value in our daily interactions in our places of work, faith, learning, and community.

We know that by honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi we can lay the foundations for a future where all people can feel a deep sense of belonging in Aotearoa. We understand that whānau, hapū, and iwi, having the power and resources to determine their own futures (tino rangatiratanga), as was promised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, creates a better society for us all. We know that when Māori are empowered, all our lives are enriched. We know the potential that learning from our past, healing the harms of colonisation and bringing reciprocity and balance to our relationships, holds for our collective future.

It has taken us a long time to get to this point, and there is still so much to achieve together.

Now is the time to stand up and show the Government that we intend to stay on course. That instead of being divided, we are determined to remain united, to grow and strengthen the relationships we have built, and continue to work together for a just and flourishing Aotearoa for all.

There will be many ways you can take action on this important issue in the coming days, weeks and months, one thing you can do today is sign this petition calling on Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - The New Zealand Government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

References:

1. Te Tiriti o Waitangi: https://nwo.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Treaty_Poster_with_Declaration_of_Independence.pdf
2. Human rights and Te Tiriti/ Treaty issues (views and understanding of
the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te Tiriti o Waitangi), Horizon Research 2023: https://tikatangata.org.nz/cms/assets/Horizon-Research-Te-Tiriti-o-Waitangi-results-for-Te-Kahui-Tika-Tangata.pdf
3. Te Tauihu iwi, councils sign up to historic partnership, Te Ao News 2023: https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/12/12/te-tauihu-iwi-councils-sign-up-to-historic-partnership/
Iwi and council join forces as government signals cuts to co-governance, RNZ 2023: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/503396/iwi-and-council-join-forces-as-government-signals-cuts-to-co-governance