NZ First pledges to abolish Waitangi Tribunal if re-elected

New Zealand First has announced a plan to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal within the first 100 days of a new government. The party intends to replace the tribunal with a temporary body called the Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission. This commission would be tasked with finalising all historical claims made prior to 2008, after which its work would conclude.

Party leader Winston Peters described the current tribunal as a "make-work industry" and a semi-judicial threat to parliamentary democracy. He stated that the tribunal's current role allows activists to use taxpayer money to interfere with parliamentary legislation. Peters also argued that the tribunal's contemporary jurisdiction should end.

Under the proposal, the Ministry of Māori Development would be strengthened to handle contemporary Treaty issues, modern policy differences, and post-settlement leadership. The ministry would also regain responsibility for Crown-Māori relations, returning to its 1991 founding mandate. Additionally, the ministry would be directed to accelerate the development of Māori-owned resources, such as forestry and marine farming, to boost regional productivity.

The ACT Party has expressed a similar goal, with leader David Seymour stating in early September that the party wants to complete all outstanding historical settlements and then wind up the Waitangi Tribunal. Seymour noted that "no institution should exist just because it always has".

Where reports differ

• Reports differ on whether the party would 'immediately' abolish the tribunal or table legislation within 100 days to achieve this.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, 1News, Otago Daily Times and NZ Herald.