HONOUR

TE tiriti

Coming soon: Māori Wards polls and
RSB oral submissions

What’s going on?

Over the last 18 months in Parliament there has been a continued pattern of undermining our foundation document, the Treaty of Waitangi | Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
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‍Te Tiriti is Us began its work last year with a campaign focussing on the positive values of unity, aroha, sharing, fairness, promise keeping and partnership. We opposed both the Treaty Principles Bill and the Regulatory Standards Bill that were foisted on Parliament by coalition deals.

We managed to sink the Treaty Principles Bill. The Regulatory Standards Bill is currently going through the Select Committe process. It has received over 130,000 submissions from New Zealanders, with the majority so far opposed to the bill.

There's more work to be done

The latest attack on our founding document, is Māori representation in local and regional government.

Māori representation in local government
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Māori have historically been under-represented in local government. Māori participation was hampered by the Local Electoral Act 2001, which required a binding local poll to be held if a council decided to establish a Māori Ward or constituency. This condition was removed in 2021. Since then, Māori representation in local government has increased from just three councils with Māori wards or constituencies to 34, plus seven regional councils.
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What is happening this year and why?
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Binding polls have been brought back in this year's local government elections. It's a coalition deal with New Zealand First to introduce the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024.
Under this legislation, all voters will have to decide whether to keep or remove their council's Māori wards or constituencies.
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Message your MP

Why we all need to vote at local elections

Most council's support Māori Ward councillors

Nearly all councils see the important contribution made by Māori Ward councillors.

Most councils do not want these polls. They regard them as an intrusion by central government into local decision-making, as well as being an unwanted cost to ratepayers.

Te Tiriti is Us agrees and believes that the resinstatement of binding polls is a significant step backwards.

We believe that Māori Wards support inclusion and fairness, deliver better council decision-making, and build representative democracy.

No consultation again

The decision to bring back binding polls was made without consultation.

In its WAI3365 report, the Waitangi Tribunal found that reinstating polls goes against the Treaty of Waitangi principles of partnership, active protection, good faith, equity, mutual benefit and options.

The Waitangi Tribunal concluded that the Crown has given precedence to its coalition commitments over its Treaty responsibilities.

Get out and vote

We strongly urge everyone to get out and vote in their local elections, and to:

Keep the Māori Ward on your local council
Keep Māori Constituencies on your regional council

EVERYONE can vote on this issue, not just those on the Māori role!

"As a general, and very important point: it is not acceptable in our society for the pakeha majority to decide on whether or not the minority can have representation..." - Submission by the Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers Association, 2024).

What are the Treaty Principles?

These core principles have been recognised by the courts, in legislation, and in Waitangi Tribunal reports over the past 50 years:

Active protection

Article 2 of the treaty guarantees Māori can organise as iwi and manage their own resources within our government framework. Safeguarding a resource base, realising Māori aspirations, and actively protecting taonga are part of recognising tino rangatiratanga.

Equity

This requires the Crown to commit to achieving equitable outcomes for Māori, for example in health, education and employment. All New Zealanders are equal under the law, free from discrimination. Equity differs from equality. Equity is when everyone can benefit equally from living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mutual benefit

Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti signed the Treaty/te Tiriti both expecting to benefit from the arrangement. Mutual benefit requires the needs of both partners to be met, and the rights and values of both to be honoured. Getting this balance right may involve some compromises.

Participation and options

The Crown accepted a duty to provide Māori with viable options to participate in ways that are appropriate for their needs and circumstances, along with access to mainstream services. For example social housing on a papakāinga model where a group of houses on whenua Māori work as a community under tikanga Māori (Māori way of doing things).

Partnership

The Treaty/te Tiriti is a contract between the Crown and rangatira Māori. Both have a duty to act fairly, reasonably, honourably and in good faith towards one another, and to cooperate on major issues of common concern.

Redress

The Crown has provided a process for the resolution of grievances. Where the Treaty principles have been broken, the Crown must recognise and make amends for the wrongdoing. This might mean an apology, or compensation, or the return of land or resources.

Have your say

You can have your say by getting out and voting in your local elections.
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Local elections in 2025 will elect members of city, district and regional councils. Each local council runs its own local election.
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These will run from 9 September to 11 October 2025.

You need to make sure you are enrolled to vote on either they Māori or general roll.

Check out the Electoral Commission website for more information.

You can also make your voice heard by writing to your local MP.

If you want to send an old-fashioned paper letter to an MP, it's free. Use this address:
‍Freepost Parliament,
Private Bag 18 888,
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160.

Send a message to your MP

Write your own message or use the one we've written for you:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Other ways to take action

Kia kaha! More ways you can show your opposition to this bill:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Māori get an extra vote?
No. For local councillors, people on the Māori roll vote for candidates in their Māori ward and those on the general roll vote for candidates in their general ward.

Does anyone get extra votes?
Yes, if you have property in another Council's authority, for example a holiday home or a rental property, you can vote where you live and also where your other properties are.
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Do you only get to vote to keep or remove local Māori Wards if you are of Māori decent?
No. Everyone can vote to keep or remove Māori Wards in this election, no matter what roll you are on.
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Is this about Māori Wardens?
No, this is about Māori Wards in local councils and Māori Constituencies in regional councils. For example, the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward in Wellington. Māori Wardens are completely different; they are community volunteers. In good news, funding for Māori Wardens has actually increased this year!‍
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Start a discussion

Start respectful discussions with friends, whānau and colleagues about the importance of Te Tiriti.

You don't have to be an expert. Just find common ground in shared values such as fairness, unity and belonging.

Discuss the negative impacts this coaliation is having on our international reputation as a treaty-based, progressive country with a good human rights record.

Learn about Te Tiriti

Maybe you weren't taught much about the Te Tiriti at school. Now is a great time to upskill yourself and learn about the history of Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can start by looking at some Resources.

Take action

Join in peaceful activities or protests.

Add your name to petitions or letters calling for the Government to honour Te Tiriti in their legislation and coalition deals!

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Get out and vote in your local elections! And tell all your friends and whanau to!
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