Opposition Leaders Support Letter Highlighting Breaches of Treaty of Waitangi
New Zealand opposition parties have endorsed a formal plea from Māori leaders to King Charles III, urging intervention amidst escalating tensions over government policies impacting Māori rights.
The National Iwi Chairs Forum, representing over 80 tribal leaders, recently addressed a letter to the king, requesting his assurance that the government upholds the Crown’s honour and respects commitments enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s founding document.
Labour MP Willie Jackson described the move as a stark indicator of the severity of the situation, citing near-weekly attacks on Māori rights by the current government. “It’s a strong message, even if the king chooses not to intervene,” Jackson stated. “This government’s treatment of Māori leadership is appalling.”
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, emphasised that tribal leaders had long sought diplomacy, but the urgency of the matter necessitated an “extreme step.” She argued that the government’s actions jeopardised the treaty’s integrity, adding that seeking the king’s support was entirely justified given the gravity of the situation.
Since its inauguration last year, the right-wing coalition government has faced backlash over policies perceived as undermining Māori rights. These include proposed rollbacks of Māori language use in public services, dismantling health equity initiatives, and a contentious bill revising the interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Critics fear these measures stoke anti-Māori sentiment and erode the historic relationship between the Crown and Māori.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon responded to the letter, acknowledging the forum’s right to address the king but reiterated that the treaty principles bill, although divisive, sparked strong views on both sides. The bill lacks widespread support and is unlikely to become law.
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 by more than 500 Māori chiefs and the British Crown, remains central to preserving Māori rights. Opposition leaders, including Green MP Teanau Tuiono, criticised the government for neglecting its commitments under the treaty. “This government is pulling us backwards and destabilising society,” Tuiono remarked. “This appeal to King Charles is a rightful call to safeguard Māori rights.”
As New Zealand’s constitutional monarch, King Charles acts on the government’s advice through his representative, the governor-general, and typically refrains from direct involvement in political affairs. However, the symbolic nature of the Māori leaders’ appeal underscores the deepening divide over the government’s approach to treaty obligations.
