The Justice Committee has called for public submissions on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 7 January 2025 at 11.59pm.

What is the Treaty Principles Bill?
As it stands, the bill, which seeks to define the principles by which te Tiriti o Waitangi is interpreted in legislation, would lay out the following three principles:

• Principle 1: The Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and Parliament has full power to make laws. They do so in the best interests of everyone, and in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society.
• Principle 2: The Crown recognises the rights that hapū and iwi had when they signed the Treaty/te Tiriti. The Crown will respect and protect those rights. Those rights differ from the rights everyone has a reasonable expectation to enjoy only when they are specified in Treaty settlements.
• Principle 3: Everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination. Everyone is entitled to the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights without discrimination.

The principles will only become law if the bill passes its second and third reading, before going to a referendum – which would require the support of a majority of Aotearoa’s voting public at the 2026 general election

However, both National and New Zealand First have vowed to shoot it down at the second reading.

Key Information for Submissions: 

1. You can make a submission as an individual (yourself) and/or an organization, e.g a Marae, a Rugby Club.
2. Submissions can not be made via email.
3. Submissions can only be made via the portal on the Governments website or by post.
   https://www.parliament.nz/en/ECommitteeSubmission/54SCJUST_SCF_227E6D0B-E632-42EB-CFFE-08DCFEB826C6/CreateSubmission
4. Submissions can be written in either English or Te Reo Maori.
5. Submissions are publicly release and published to the Parliments website. Only your name and organisation’s name is required on a submission. Please keep your contact details separate, as if they are included on the submission they will become publicly available when the submission is released.
6. Each submission must be different to be counted by the Select Committee as a unique submission. So this is not a ‘copy and paste another submissions’ type of situation.

 

Do include in your submission: 

1. Do tell them what you think, and why.
2. Suggest or recommend changes.
3. Share supporting facts, figures or evidence.
4. Keep your korero clear, focussed and concise.
5.  Submit in Te Reo Maori, the committee will get it translated to English if they need to.

 

Do NOT include in your submission: 

1. Do not swear or use offensive language – the committee will not consider feedback with offensive language.
2. Include personal details – these will be published for everyone to access.
3. Stray too far from your point – the committee can throw out feedback if deemed ‘irrelevant’.
4. Say anything defamatory or is suppressed by an order of a NZ Court.

 

How to structure your submission: 

1. Introduction:
   My name is __________________.
   Add a sentence about yourself or your organization, business etc.
2. I do/do not wish to speak to the Select Committee about my submission.
3. I/we [organisation name] oppose the Treaty of Waitangi Bill (the Bill).
4. Why you oppose the bill: (These can be bullet points if you like)

• Key Concern #1 e.g the future of my mokopuna 
• Key Concert #2 complete removal of Maori rights
  
  Write as many key concerns as you’d like. Consider including supporting data, evidence or facts to each concern.

5.  I/we wish to make the following recommendations: e.g Throw this bill out immediately. We want to see Te Tiriti o Waitangi fully expressed         in             governance and social structures of Aotearoa.   
6.  Conclusion/Closing Statement e.g This bill is wrong. It should be abandoned. Aotearoa must work towards honouring Te Tiriti.

 

Where to submit your submission: 

1. Via Online Portal: https://www.parliament.nz/en/ECommitteeSubmission/54SCJUST_SCF_227E6D0B-E632-42EB-CFFE-08DCFEB826C6/CreateSubmission
2. Via Post:
   Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill
   Committee Secretariat
   Justice Committee
   Parliament Buildings
   Wellington

 

Frequently asked questions: Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill – New Zealand Parliament (Updated frequently)
Please contact TreatyPrinciples@parliament.govt.nz or call 04 817 6172 if you have any questions not answered on this FAQ Page.
You can read the bill on the legislation website here: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2024/0094/latest/whole.html#LMS1003450