A SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TREATY OF WAITANGI BILL
(also known as the Treaty Principles Bill)
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Where did Treaty Principles come from?
In the 1960s and 70s there were strong Māori protests to fight for their land, language and sovereignty. The government was forced to respond.
In 1975, a law was passed to create the Waitangi Tribunal. It was the first of many laws to mention “the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi”.
Over the years, the Tribunal and the Courts have worked carefully to explain what the Treaty Principles are and what they mean.
The Principles explain how the government should relate to Māori.
Here are some of the names of the principles: Partnership, Partnership, Active protection, Redress, Mutual benefit, Options, Equity.
Are Treaty Principles the same as Te Tiriti?
No, they are not the same.
If we were fully honouring Te Tiriti, we would honour the words of the original agreement.
Principles are a way to recognise some elements of Te Tiriti (and of the English ‘treaty’) in New Zealand law, without recognising Māori sovereignty and independence.
What do Treaty Principles do? Are they helpful?
The Treaty Principles we have now are not perfect. They are not the same as recognising Te Tiriti itself, but they are taking us closer to honouring Te Tiriti.
Principles were needed so that the Government would try to honour its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Māori have been able to use the Principles over the last 50 years to improve things for their people in many areas:
- to support Māori language and education
- to return some areas of land
- for Māori be part of decisions about their own lands, waterways and ancestral places.
Sometimes, Māori have been able to use Treaty Principles to protect the environment. This is good for all of us.
Treaty Principles do not take anything away from non-Maori.