Shane Jones accuses Waitangi Tribunal of fear mongering after condemning NZ First bill

Author: Julia Gabel,
Publish Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026, 3:23pm

NZ First Minister Shane Jones. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand First Deputy Leader Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of “scaremongering” after it released a scathing report on the coalition’s plans to review Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation.

Jones said the tribunal’s review was “an attempt to undermine the status of New Zealand First” in the lead-up to the election.

The review – part of New Zealand First’s coalition agreement with National – proposes reviewing references to the Treaty of Waitangi in 19 pieces of legislation.

After an urgent inquiry, the tribunal said reviewing and potentially removing clauses from legislation addressing inequities could lead to Māori deaths.

“I find that an extraordinary ascertain that somehow the removal of a [Treaty of] Waitangi principles’ reference is going to lead to a disproportionate number of Māori perishing in the health system,” Jones said.

This was addressed by the health outputs and quality of service it could provide, he said.

“Sadly, a lot of engagements between hapū and the Waitangi Tribunal, as we run up to the election, are turning into both scare mongering, fear mongering, and it is an attempt to undermine the status of New Zealand First.”

The tribunal has been heavily criticised by the coalition amid claims it is becoming increasingly “activist”, said the legislation in the review had sought to combat “pressing problems” facing Māori.

That includes sections of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Act 2020 and the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990.

The tribunal said in its report the policy could cause “real harm” to Māori welfare and the Māori-Crown relationship.

“For example ... Māori have consistently shorter life spans than their non-Māori counterparts,” the tribunal said.

“Any reduction of the focus on the needs of Māori within the legislative and policy settings relevant to these issues will not simply be detrimental to Māori interests in a theoretical sense.

“These changes could result in real harm, and potentially the loss of Māori lives.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Jones was “sliding” his rhetoric to suit certain voters.

“The tribunal is what we have used in the past for judicial decisions and iwi settlements and Waitangi Tribunal claims which we have all, across parties, honoured. Now he is saying they are at fault. Make up your mind, you cannot have it both ways,” she said.

“I think what we are seeing is the sliding of rhetoric to be anti-te Tiriti, to be anti-immigrant, to be anti-Māori, because that’s where they see they are going to get their Trump-like voters.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has said the review would bring more clarity and predictability to law, as references vary in wording. For example, one reference could use “honour” while another might say “give effect to”.

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.