Te Pāti Māori outlines vision for economic sovereignty and energy independence ahead of 2026 election

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has outlined an ambitious political agenda that seeks to weave together constitutional reform, Treaty-based governance, and economic self-determination. Speaking as the party prepares for the 2026 election, Tamihere emphasized that political authority is inseparable from the everyday economic challenges facing whānau. According to reporting by Waatea News on Monday 21 September 2026, the party’s platform centers on granting Te Tiriti o Waitangi greater constitutional force through specific mechanisms. A cornerstone of this proposal is the establishment of a $220 million Mātike Mai Fund over a four-year period. The policy also calls for the creation of an independent Te Tiriti Commission and seeks to make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations legally binding. Tamihere maintains that true mana motuhake requires Māori to have greater control over the resources, investments, and institutions that shape economic outcomes for their communities. This vision for sovereignty extends into the energy sector with the party’s newly announced Energy Sovereignty policy. Te Pāti Māori is proposing a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund designed to support Māori and community-owned energy assets. This includes investments in renewable energy generation, battery storage, and microgrids on Māori land. The goal is to transition whānau, marae, hapū, and iwi from being passive consumers to active producers and owners of energy infrastructure by 2035. Furthermore, the party is advocating for stronger regulatory powers to address electricity prices and corporate profits, alongside the development of a national energy plan. Tamihere argues that these initiatives are essential for shifting the way power is shared across Aotearoa. By linking constitutional change to economic ownership, the party is presenting a pathway for Māori to secure long-term sustainability and independence in the decades ahead.