On April 10th 2025 the Coalition government’s ‘Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill’ was finally voted out by a margin of 112 votes to 11. The introduction of the Bill on November 7, 2024 saw the youngest Member of Parliament, MP for Hauraki-Waikato, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke rip up a copy of the Bill. Viewed by millions around the world, Hana-Rāwhiti is seen as an inspiration to indigenous peoples globally, particularly young indigenous women.
Submissions on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill opened on November 19th. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok feeds were filled with submission writing workshops and drop-in sessions, resources, and information. The message was clear – everyone, no matter how old or young, needed to submit on this Bill.
Over 300,000 submissions were received, and 90% opposed the Bill. Historian Vincent O’Malley talked about how “Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed between the Crown and various rangatira Māori on behalf of their people. It was agreed in a particular context – one in which 80,000 Māori outnumbered and dominated the 2000 non-Māori resident in these islands not just demographically, but also militarily, economically, and culturally”. The group Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga emphasised “Aotearoa can only flourish if all of us work towards upholding and honouring He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi”, and the importance of Te Tiriti education to ensuring those coming to Aotearoa understand a more truthful history of our country.
Toitū Whaingaroa were lucky enough to be allocated time to make an oral submission. We asked the Select Committee to “imagine the conversations we could have and the dreams we could realise as a nation when we understood not only our past, but how Te Tiriti lays the pathway for our collective flourishing futures in Aotearoa”.
Michelle Levy from Toitū Whaingaroa was part of the hīkoi arriving to Parliament on November 19th . She recalls a moment that stuck with her from that day.
“I was sitting outside the train station in the afternoon. Parliament grounds had been left spotless. Central Wellington was still buzzing. A wahine looked at me as she walked past. She had her tino rangatiratanga flag draped across her shoulders. She said something to me that summed up what so many of us felt in that moment – ‘I wish this day would never end’ ’’.
Whether you took part in hīkoi; delivered, organised or attended submission writing workshops or drop-in sessions; shared links, information and handy hints; talked with whānau; or put stickers on your cars and placards on your fences – every single action mattered.
Although this Bill is gone, the work is far from over. The intent to remove or exclude Te Tiriti o Waitangi from legislation and policy continues. Here in Whaingaroa, Raglan Naturally have recently hosted, alongside Dr Ingrid Huygens from Tangata Tiriti-Treaty People, a training opportunity for those in our community who have a passion for continuing to ignite Te Tiriti focused kōrero and action across our community.
Keep a look out for activations focused on the upcoming referendum on Māori Wards (September/October this year).
To keep updated join the Toitū Whaingaroa Facebook Group. Toitū te Tiriti!
*Toitū Whaingaroa, part of Raglan Naturally, recognises that achieving the flourishing partnership relationship aspired to in Te Tiriti o Waitangi requires learning and sharing. We have a focus educating, creating and activating; we seek to ignite not only thinking, but action!
