NZ First announces plan to abolish Waitangi Tribunal, replace it with claims body

NZ First say they would abolish the Waitangi Tribunal and replace it with a body tasked with completing historical Treaty claims under a plan to be introduced within the first 100 days of a new government. 

The party said the proposed Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission would finalise all claims made before 2008 before being disbanded. 

NZ First leader Winston Peters said the tribunal had become a “make-work organisation” hearing claims that would previously have been dismissed as inappropriate. 

He accused claimants of using the tribunal and taxpayers’ money to challenge Parliament’s authority. 

“Many claims before the tribunal are directly contesting the right of a mandated Parliament to pass laws,” the party said. 

“That is a direct semi-judicial threat against the very essence of our democracy.” 

NZ First said its plan would end what it called the “Waitangi grievance industry” and restore a system in which all New Zealanders were treated as equal citizens with equal rights. 

The party said jobs associated with the tribunal would be replaced by “real work”, while the proposed commission would have a limited and temporary role. 

Under the plan, contemporary claims, modern policy disagreements and post-settlement leadership issues would be handled by the Ministry of Māori Development. 

The ministry would also resume responsibility for Crown-Māori relations - a role NZ First said was included in the legislation establishing the department in 1991. 

NZ First said Māori land reform and administrative improvements to the Māori Land Court would be priorities. 

The Ministry of Māori Development would be directed to focus on practical economic outcomes, including the development of Māori-owned land, marine farming, forestry and other resources. 

The party said it would also strengthen the ministry’s role in addressing policy issues relating to existing Treaty settlements. 

On X, David Seymour said Act welcomed NZ First’s announcement. 

“Their proposal ... is slightly more complicated than ACT’s policy ... But, details aside, it’s good news to see another Party in the Coalition wanting it gone one way or another,” he wrote. 

“The Tribunal has outlived its usefulness.” 

The Waitangi Tribunal was established in 1975 to investigate claims that the Crown had breached the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. 

Its jurisdiction was later extended to include claims dating back to 1840.