Te Pāti Māori to campaign on entrenching Treaty of Waitangi and binding tribunal findings

Te Pāti Māori will take a major constitutional reform agenda into New Zealand’s 2026 election, including proposals to give the Treaty of Waitangi a stronger place in law.

The party says it wants to entrench the treaty in legislation and make findings by the Waitangi Tribunal binding. Its policies also call for a commission with the power to stop Cabinet decisions that seriously “breach” Te Tiriti, or the Treaty of Waitangi.

The proposals would expand the treaty’s role in government decision-making and give the proposed commission a direct check on Cabinet. Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi are pictured in connection with an earlier policy announcement for the election.