The Latest Breaking News from the Waitangi Tribunal

NZ’s next government could be a four-party coalition. Get used to the new normal

Going by recent opinion polls, the combined votes of National and Labour in the coming election may be the lowest ever – below 60%.

The Conversation · Oct 6

Will weakening Treaty provisions in NZ law create more problems than it solves?

On the face of it, the government’s desire to make references to te Tiriti o Waitangi consistent across all legislation sounds reasonable.

The Conversation · Apr 29

What is happening with the government’s contentious review of the Waitangi Tribunal?

Resistance to the New Zealand government’s policies aimed at rolling back Māori rights and protections under te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi has now reached the United Nations.

The Conversation · Nov 25, 2025

Māori tribes make rare plea to King Charles for intervention in New Zealand politics

Exclusive: Open letter seen by the Guardian asks King to ‘ensure the government does not diminish the crown’s honour’ amid tensions over policy direction for Māori

The Guardian - AU · Dec 11, 2024

Why are New Zealand’s Maori protesting over colonial-era treaty bill?

Thousands are marching against a bill they believe undermines the Treaty of Waitangi and limits Maori rights.

Al Jazeera · Nov 19, 2024

Controversial bill to reinterpret New Zealand’s founding document reaches parliament

The widely criticised bill aims to redefine Treaty of Waitangi principles that guide relations between Maori and ruling authorities

The Guardian - AU · Nov 6, 2024

Rewriting history: how the Treaty ‘principles’ evolved and why they don’t stand up to scrutiny

ACT Party leader David Seymour has said the goal of his Treaty Principles Bill is to stimulate an overdue conversation on te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi. At that level at least he has succeeded.

The Conversation · Sep 9, 2024

Fast-track laws, parliamentary urgency, Treaty tension, media retreat: warning signs for NZ’s ‘brittle’ democracy

There have been so many submissions on the government’s proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill – 27,000 written, with 2,900 wanting to appear before the select committee in person – that a ballot system has been introduced to manage the process.

The Conversation · May 19, 2024

New Zealand moves to abolish Maori health authority despite protests

Centre-right government says health agency set up to improve access for Maori people will be shut down by end of June.

Al Jazeera · Feb 27, 2024

Luxon strives for unity amid Waitangi Day unease

New Zealanders are marking the 184th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi with their national day as PM Chris Luxon urges unity.

AAP · Feb 5, 2024