New Zealand Changes Laws About the Treaty of Waitangi

May 15, 2026, 04:07
New ZealandPolitics

Introduction

The New Zealand government is changing laws. They want to change how the government uses the Treaty of Waitangi.

Main Body

The government wants to change 19 laws. Some laws will not mention the Treaty. Other laws will only say the government must 'think about' the Treaty. This is a weaker rule than before. A group called the Waitangi Tribunal is unhappy. They say the government is not working with Māori people. They say this is wrong and hurts Māori interests. There is also a problem with nature laws. A Māori group called Ngāi Tahu is angry. They say the government is taking away their power to make decisions about the land.

Conclusion

The Waitangi Tribunal told the government to stop. But the government wants to continue with the changes.

Learning

💡 The 'Want To' Pattern

In this text, we see a common way to talk about goals or desires: Want + To + Action.

  • The government wants to change...
  • The government wants to continue...

How it works: If you have a wish, use this simple formula: Person →\rightarrow want/wants →\rightarrow to →\rightarrow verb

Quick Examples:

  • I want to learn English.
  • He wants to help.

🔍 Simple Opposites

Look at how the text describes power and feelings. Notice these pairs:

Strong / PositiveWeak / Negative
Working with →\rightarrow Not working with
Power →\rightarrow Taking away power
Happy →\rightarrow Unhappy / Angry

Vocabulary Learning

government (n.)
the group that runs a country
Example:The government will decide the new rules.
law (n.)
a rule that people must follow
Example:The new law will protect the environment.
change (v.)
to make something different
Example:They want to change the old laws.
group (n.)
a number of people together
Example:A group of students visited the museum.
unhappy (adj.)
not feeling happy
Example:She was unhappy with the decision.
wrong (adj.)
not correct or fair
Example:It is wrong to take something that isn’t yours.
hurt (v.)
to cause pain or damage
Example:The comment hurt his feelings.
problem (n.)
a difficult situation
Example:The traffic jam is a big problem.
nature (n.)
the world around us, like plants and animals
Example:We love to explore nature in the park.
angry (adj.)
feeling strong dislike or upset
Example:He was angry because he lost his keys.
power (n.)
the ability to do something
Example:She has the power to make decisions.
decisions (n.)
choices that people make
Example:The committee will make important decisions.
land (n.)
the ground where we live
Example:They own a piece of land near the sea.
stop (v.)
to end an action
Example:Please stop talking during the lecture.
continue (v.)
to keep doing something
Example:They will continue the project next year.
think (v.)
to use your mind to consider something
Example:You should think carefully before you answer.
about (prep.)
concerning or relating to
Example:She wrote a letter about her trip.
rule (n.)
a rule that people must follow
Example:The new rule says no phones in class.
before (adv.)
earlier in time
Example:Finish your homework before dinner.
weak (adj.)
not strong or powerful
Example:The bridge was weak and needed repairs.