Labour Pledges to Reinstate Mana Whakahono ā Rohe Agreements for Iwi in Resource Management

Labour has officially placed iwi participation in environmental and resource management at the forefront of the 2026 election campaign by promising to restore Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements. The commitment, announced on Thursday, 24 September 2026, aims to reinstate legislative pathways for iwi to engage in decisions concerning whenua, wai, and other Māori interests. Labour Māori-Crown relations spokesperson Willie Jackson says the party intends to bring these agreements back into resource management legislation. According to a report by Waatea News, Jackson argues that the current Government’s removal of these pathways has weakened the established mechanisms for iwi to influence regional planning and resource oversight. The pledge follows the recent passage of the Government’s Planning and Natural Environment Bills, which replaced the Resource Management Act (RMA). Under the new legislative framework, existing and initiated Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements do not transfer over. Instead, councils are permitted to establish more narrowly defined iwi participation agreements. Jackson noted that this shift has faced significant opposition, specifically citing five Waikato River iwi chairs who argue the changes conflict with Crown obligations established through Treaty settlements. These leaders expressed concern that the new system could undermine long-term efforts to restore the health of the Waikato River. While RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has defended the new system in Parliament, stating that Māori participation remains embedded at national and regional levels through more focused agreements, Labour maintains that restoring the previous model is essential for a true partnership approach. The policy move highlights a distinct divide in how political parties intend to manage the relationship between mana whenua and the environment in the upcoming term.