Constitutional Review

The National and the Māori parties signed up to undertake a constitutional review as part of their coalition agreement. The Treaty of Waitangi would be the cornerstone of this constitution. New Zealand First has refused to take part in the review, which is a sham to appease the Maori Party. The review will result in vague, ill-defined, or non-existent Treaty of Waitangi principles inserted into all laws governing all New Zealanders.

ACTION

Contact Rt Hon Winston Peters with your thoughts

Where we've got to

The Treaty was signed in 1840 as a sign of good intentions, not as the basis to democracy
National/Māori parties aim to make undefined Treaty principles a constitutional backbone
Democracy cannot function with race-based laws

What's next

Encourage New Zealanders to speak out against the review recommendations
Strongly oppose the recommendations when they are brought to Parliament
Lobby for references to Treaty “principles” to be removed from existing legislation

History

National last year agreed to the review to obtain support from the Māori Party to form a coalition Government. There was no public demand. Today, 172 years after the Treaty was signed, there are uncertainties and arguments over its meaning and translation. Despite this lack of transparency, National are prepared to entrench ambiguous Treaty principles into our laws for the sake of expediency.

Why you should care

The Constitutional Review is a sham designed to sneak Treaty of Waitangi principles into all laws governing everyday existence in this country. It means that every New Zealander will be subject to the irrational psycho-legal-babble that surrounds the Treaty’s mythical principles. Our proud democratic traditions are being sold down the river in what amounts to little more than a political back room deal.