ACT has announced a policy to wind up the Waitangi Tribunal once its remaining Treaty settlement work is completed, arguing the tribunal’s original purpose will have been fulfilled.
Speaking to RCR, ACT Deputy Leader and Minister for Courts Nicole McKee said the Waitangi Tribunal was established in 1975 to hear contemporary complaints relating to land, before its jurisdiction was extended in 1985 to investigate claims dating back to 1840.
McKee says more than 50 years of work has resulted in many Treaty settlements across New Zealand, with only a small number of issues remaining. She argued the Tribunal has since moved beyond its intended role and has attempted to exercise powers that ACT does not believe it should have, such as the Tribunal summoning ministers to appear before it.
“We’re saying, wait a minute, we are elected officials, elected on portfolios or promises to come and make these changes. And we have a tribunal trying to stop us from doing it,” McKee said.
ACT would allow the Tribunal to continue operating, but once the outstanding issues were resolved, the Tribunal should be “wound up,” she said, adding that the remaining work should be completed before the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
But NZ First leader Winston Peters said in a post on X that, while he agreed with abolishing the Tribunal, such an action would not go far enough. He compared ACT’s proposal to a 1990 speech by then-Prime Minister Jim Bolger, in which Bolger said the tribunal would be wound up by 2014. “We have a policy coming that will deal with this properly. Watch this space,” said Peters.
McKee confirmed that winding up the Tribunal would not remove access to the justice system for Maori. The Maori Land Court would remain, alongside the wider justice system, which McKee said should operate under the principle of “one law for all”.
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Yeah, the utopian final swttlements.
LoL
Gravy train for politically astute elites, as far as I’m concerned and little more. High time it pulled into the last station and the free loaders were shown the door. The NZ taxpayer deserves better.
Well said global.
It was never about Maoris (whose awful health and income sratistics haven’t budged), it was a scheme to launder tax money into the back pockets of politicians, adding to the mysteriously gained riches of: Helen Clark, Chris Finlayson, Ardern, Robertson, Willis, and Potaka.
So don’t be fooled by government propogandists stirring up racial conflict to distract you from your meagre incomes being syphoned into politicians bank accounts.
Instead, ask yourself why a National government which promised to end racial favouritism granted $19m per year for a kapa haka tournament.
That is quite a leap from the John Key government’s $2m per year kapahako budget.
All animals are equal
But some animals are more equal than others
Candies
The Waitangi tribunal was unconstitutionally vested legislative authority (which controls the legislation put through the House of Representatives) to appoint their own registered tribes and representatives that are NOT the Confederation of United Tribes of New Zealand. What has continued from the establishment of this tribunal is the continual addition of legislation which has included the heads of Trust boards of tribal districts. These have been determined by the Governor Generals and are appointments made by the NZ Government. So, the government created a body with no constitutional continuance and handed them legislative control and authority to change it, if so required, in an attempt to usurp the authority of the Confederation of United Tribes of New Zealand.
While I and most tax payers agree, eventually this race based crap will be re instated when government changes.
The land was never ever stolen. Over time, lot by lot, it was purchased.
Such an expensive fraud on all New Zealanders. All at the cost of hospitals, roads, all infrastructure. That’s where the money should have been spent or not collected in the first place.
Race discrimination is real in NZ. Get rid of it now.
Yep, good idea…
Obviously these corrupt self-serving racist grifters have finally run out of credible imaginary victimhood brownie points.
No mud left means its squeaky clean
The irony of it all is they are not a race in the true definition of the meaning of the word
Not of ancestry descent but of generations
It is the United Nations who protect them giving them a free pass at the thin end of the political wedge
Which is comprised of mainly non white bought and paid for jerk water hick town countries not Nations
The Palace of Strangers the Confederation of Nations against YAHWAH God
Not surprisingly to be weaponized and used against a race of ancestry descent
Race is the issue
Race is everything
David Seymour is a complete arse, but on this issue he’s finally accidentally correct.
Credit where credit is due.
That part of the gravy train will be derailed.
When will the other nonsense tax wasting make-believe enterprises go?
Ministry for women. No longer needed as they are fully integrated and totally independent. In their own words they are not reliant on men. Just wondering how those women fill in their work day at the ministry.