What is the Waitangi Tribunal?
16 Oct 2026
Now You Know, season two, episode 64
Both the Act Party and NZ First are campaigning to disestablish the Waitangi Tribunal, so here's Robbie Nicol to explain what it is and how it came to be.
Both the Act Party and NZ First are campaigning to disestablish the Waitangi Tribunal. The Act Party intend to remove the tribunal’s ability to inquire into contemporary Māori claims of Crown breaches of the treaty. Instead, the tribunal’s sole focus would be settling all outstanding historical claims – particularly those in Ngāpuhi. Following the settlement of all historical claims, the tribunal would be wound up.
NZ First are proposing a different approach to achieve the same end. The party would immediately disestablish the Waitangi Tribunal and replace it with a "Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission". In a statement, NZ First said, "The new commission will have the purpose of finalising all claims prior to 2008, after which time its work will be finished."
Legal academic Carwyn Jones told The Spinoff the tribunal was established to investigate contemporary claims, and the Act Party's plan to remove those powers was confusing. “There doesn’t seem to be any reasoning about why it shouldn’t be looking at contemporary government policy now.”
Directed, filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.
