Resistance to the New Zealand government’s policies aimed at rolling back Māori rights and protections under te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi has now reached the United Nations.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has now heard a complaint made by Māori health advocate and lawyer Lady Tureiti Moxon.

Her complaint covers a range of legislative action the coalition government has taken since winning power in 2023, including the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, changes to Māori local body wards, and the removal of statutory obligations for Oranga Tamariki to work in partnership with Māori.

The complaint specifically raises concerns about the review of the Waitangi Tribunal’s governing legislation, the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, which was part of the coalition agreement between the National Party and New Zealand First. The two parties committed to:

Amend the Waitangi Tribunal legislation to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of its inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation.

A four-person Independent Technical Advisory Group was established in May this year to lead the review and report findings and recommendations to a group of ministers by September.

The........

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