This is a pre-publication version of Part II (chapter 6) of the Waitangi Tribunal’s interim report Ngā Mātāpono / The Principles. As such, all parties should expect that, in the published version, headings and formatting may be adjusted, typographical errors rectified, and footnotes checked and corrected where necessary. Additional illustrative material may be inserted. However, the Tribunal’s findings and recommendations will not change with the publication of this interim report. Appendix I to chapter 6 will also become part of the existing chapter 1.

The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill was Introduced to Parliament on 7 November 2024 by David Seymour (Act Party).

In this chapter, [the Tribunal] examine the advice given by Ministry of Justice (MOJ) officials to the Associate Minister in the course of the development of this policy since
May 2024 and consider the Government’s final policy decisions in relation to the Bill. This includes the rewording of the proposed principles since we last considered them, the Bill’s provision that states that it would not alter the text of the
Treaty or te Tiriti, and the extension of its application to any Act where Treaty principles would normally be considered relevant. We also consider the Associate Minister’s intention for the Bill to be put to a public, binding referendum. We then
make our further findings on these matters.

Finally, [the Tribunal notes] that this urgent inquiry into the Treaty Principles Bill policy and Treaty clause review is being carried out as part of the wider Tomokia Ngā
Tatau o Matangireia – Constitutional Kaupapa inquiry, and some of the issues that have been raised are best dealt with in the wider inquiry. These include the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the English Laws Act
1858, the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, the Constitution Act 1986, and the Māori Community Development Act 1962. While these may be referred to briefly n this chapter, the main consideration of these issues will take place in the wider
inquiry. (From section 6.1). Record #9032