The taxpayer-funded Waitangi Tribunal was set up in 1975, primarily to deal with historical wrong doings regarding the loss of confiscated land.

The Tribunal's only power was always to make recommendations to Government on such issues. 

Lately, however, it’s begun to delve into a whole heap of other matters. In fact, its members seem determined to try their luck at expanding their role at any opportunity.

The Waitangi Tribunal thinks, for example, it has the power to compel the Children’s Minister to appear before them and explain her audacity in keeping election promises to put the interests and safety of the child ahead of cultural considerations.

Perhaps most concerning is that the Tribunal thinks it has the power to re-write our constitution, forgetting that power is reserved for the voter, and no-one but the voter.

Since the new Coalition Government was elected with a strong mandate to remove race-based policies and law, the Tribunal has been hearing claims denouncing many of the Government’s election promises as violations of the Treaty.

And now, it has just produced a taxpayer-funded, 200-page report screaming for the Treaty Principles Bill to be axed on the basis that the Bill is trying to re-write the Treaty.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

In any case, the Bill will not alter the Treaty. It will merely define the so-called “principles” which were created but, foolishly, never spelt out in legislation.

It will put to bed the constant reinterpretations of what the Treaty promised. It will confirm that all New Zealanders have the same political rights. And it will give us the chance to have a mature national conversation about it all.

It is not leadership to say we cannot have a debate because the conversation is too difficult or divisive. It is divisive to allow the issue to continue to fester.

This latest attempt to thwart the democratic process begs the question once again, why is the New Zealand taxpayer still funding them?

Rather than axing the Treaty Principles Bill, let’s axe the Waitangi Tribunal instead.

Please sign the petition, if you agree.