Māori health advocate highlights Waitangi Tribunal’s role in upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Leading Māori health advocate Lady Tureiti Moxon has spoken out in support of the Waitangi Tribunal, describing it as the only permanent commission capable of investigating breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In comments reported by RNZ, Moxon emphasised that the tribunal provides a critical avenue for Māori to challenge government decisions that impact their communities. The tribunal, established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, serves as a standing commission of inquiry that makes recommendations to the government regarding Treaty compliance. Moxon highlighted the importance of this work following a recent tribunal report concerning the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority). The tribunal found that the Crown’s actions in that instance breached multiple principles and lacked proper regard for the Crown-Māori relationship. According to Moxon, the tribunal’s oversight is essential for holding the Crown accountable when it fails to acknowledge its own breaches. She noted that international bodies, such as the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, have echoed the tribunal’s concerns. For Moxon, the institution is fundamental to ensuring that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is treated as a document with real meaning and weight in New Zealand's legal and social framework. While political parties have proposed various changes to the tribunal’s future, including ACT’s preference to limit jurisdiction to historical claims and New Zealand First’s proposal for a replacement commission, Moxon argues that the tribunal remains a necessary check on contemporary policy. She stated that without this permanent body to raise issues, the impacts of government decisions on Māori wellbeing could go unacknowledged.