Te Puni Kōkiri Expands Role to Strengthen Māori-Crown Relationships and Treaty Commitments

Te Puni Kōkiri has reinforced its commitment to Māori-Crown relations following the formal transfer of five critical functions previously managed by Te Arawhiti. The change, which was updated on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, aims to modernize the approach to Māori development and ensure the Crown fulfills its legal obligations under Treaty of Waitangi settlements. Under the new framework, Te Puni Kōkiri now leads post-settlement relationships and is responsible for monitoring how Crown agencies implement settlement commitments. This includes the management of Te Haeata, the online settlement database that allows post-settlement governance entities and government agencies to track progress on deeds of settlement and legislation. The agency is also tasked with providing strategic advice on the distinct rights and interests of iwi and hapū, as well as coordinating significant Crown events. To support these functions, Te Puni Kōkiri has released updated guidance for Crown agencies. This documentation sets out clear expectations for commitment holders to foster a culture of durability and true Treaty partnership. The agency is offering training on the Te Haeata portal to ensure that both government staff and iwi partners can effectively navigate the database to search and view specific commitments. The transition operationalizes decisions made by Cabinet in August 2024 to clarify agency functions and enable a more streamlined government approach. Te Puni Kōkiri stated that these expanded responsibilities are designed to ensure public service capability remains high when engaging with Māori, ultimately strengthening the bond between the Crown and its Treaty partners through transparency and accountability in the settlement process.