The ACT Party recently announced a common-sense policy proposal: finish all remaining historical Treaty settlements, strip the Waitangi Tribunal of its contemporary powers, and wind up the Tribunal for good once historical work is completed.
For years, Hobson’s Pledge supporters have seen the Waitangi Tribunal stretch far beyond its original mandate. It was meant to resolve historical grievances, not act as an unelected block on the democratically elected Parliament.
As we approach the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty in 2040, New Zealanders deserve a clear endpoint to the settlement process and a return to one law for all. ACT has shown the courage to lay this policy on the table - now it is up to National and New Zealand First to back it.
We Have Demanded Answers from the Leaders
This week, Hobson’s Pledge sent formal letters directly to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and NZ First Leader Winston Peters.
We asked both leaders directly:
Will you commit to ensuring historical Treaty settlements are truly full and final?
Will you support stripping the Tribunal’s contemporary jurisdiction and disestablishing it once historical claims are resolved?
Will you commit to adopting this as official policy for your parties and in any future coalition agreements?
NZ First and National's Coalition Agreement
Hobson's Pledge wants to acknowledge that in the National Party coalition agreement with NZ First, there is a clear statement to “amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation”.
We welcomed that then, as we still wish to see it progress now. But Hobson’s Pledge wants this to go further and along the lines of ACT’s policy. Amending and limiting the ever-increasing scope of the Tribunal is a good short-term goal. But once the existing Treaty settlements are finished, that should also end the need for the Waitangi Tribunal.
How You Can Action This Today
We cannot rely on politicians in Wellington to do the right thing on their own. They need to see that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders expect a clear, permanent resolution to the Treaty settlement process.
Here is how you can help push this over the line:
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Attend Public Meetings: If Christopher Luxon or National MPs are holding public meetings in your local area, turn up. Respectfully raise your hand and ask: "Will National support ending the Waitangi Tribunal once historical claims are settled?"
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Write Directly to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon: Take 2 minutes to send an email to Christopher Luxon at [email protected] asking National to publicly support ending contemporary Tribunal jurisdiction and setting a firm date to wind it up.
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Write to Rt. Hon. Winston Peters: Send a quick note to Winston Peters at [email protected] urging NZ First to formally align with this policy and make it a non-negotiable requirement in future government agreements.
- Fuel our campaign by donating: Politicians only pay attention to campaigns they can’t ignore. We are up against well-funded interest groups fighting to keep the status quo. Your donation would allow us to spread this message nationwide: click here to donate.
The Waitangi Tribunal was never intended to exist indefinitely. It is time for our elected Government to step up, complete the settlement process, and unite New Zealand with equal rights for all citizens.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for making your voice heard.
