New Zealand is our home

New Zealand’s future depends on our ability to move forward together as one people, with shared rights, shared responsibilities, and shared civic institutions.

Hobson’s Pledge exists to promote equal citizenship under the law and to support public policy that treats New Zealanders as individuals, not as members of separate groups defined by ancestry.

We believe unity is not about erasing difference. It is about ensuring that the state treats all citizens fairly and consistently, and that democratic institutions serve everyone equally.

 

What we believe

Those who support Hobson’s Pledge are New Zealanders from across the political and cultural spectrum who want a country where everyone can prosper and succeed.

We believe that:

• All New Zealanders should be equal before the law, regardless of when they or their ancestors arrived
• Citizenship should carry the same rights and responsibilities for everyone
• Public policy should be based on need, evidence, and outcomes, not ethnicity
• Democratic decision-making should be transparent and accountable to all voters
• Social cohesion is strengthened when laws and institutions apply equally

We support policies that help those who need assistance, but we believe support should be targeted by need rather than ancestry.

 

The Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi is an important part of New Zealand’s history and national story.

It established a single system of government, protected property rights, and affirmed that Māori would enjoy the same rights and duties of citizenship as others under the Crown.

We do not believe the Treaty created separate constitutional status for different groups of citizens, nor that it requires ongoing race-based governance arrangements.

We support the completion of historical Treaty settlements and believe reopening settled claims would be counter-productive. Our focus is on the future and how New Zealand governs itself today and tomorrow.

 

Why we speak up

Over recent decades, New Zealand has seen an increasing use of race-based policy and governance arrangements across public institutions.

While often well-intentioned, these approaches risk:

• Undermining trust in public institutions
• Creating resentment and division
• Weakening the principle of equal citizenship

We believe New Zealand can address disadvantage, protect the environment, and honour its history without dividing citizens into separate legal or political categories.

A country with shared rules and shared institutions is better placed to succeed — socially, economically, and democratically.

 

What we do

Hobson’s Pledge advances these principles through respectful, lawful, and democratic means.

We:

• Analyse and comment on public policy
• Campaign against race-based governance and how it undermines equality
• Encourage open debate and civic participation
• Support democratic tools such as referenda and public submissions
• Engage with political parties willing to commit to equal treatment under the law

Our advocacy is calm, evidence-based, and focused on long-term social cohesion.

 

Looking forward

New Zealand today is deeply interconnected. After nearly two centuries, we are no longer separate peoples, but a shared society shaped by migration, inter-marriage, and common civic life.

We believe the best path forward is one that:

• Respects history
• Protects individual rights
• Strengthens unity rather than division

Hobson’s Pledge is about building a future where New Zealanders are treated equally and where fairness under the law remains the foundation of our democracy.

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