The New Zealand Government's Review of Treaty of Waitangi Laws

May 15, 2026, 04:07
New ZealandPolitics

Introduction

The New Zealand government is starting a wide legislative program to standardize and, in some cases, reduce the legal power of Treaty of Waitangi references in several laws.

Main Body

This plan is based on an agreement between the National and NZ First parties, who want to fix inconsistencies in how Treaty obligations are written. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stated that 19 laws will be changed: seven references will be removed, two will be edited, and ten will be lowered to a 'take into account' standard. Consequently, this represents a move away from stronger requirements, such as 'giving effect to' the Treaty, toward a lower level of consideration. This policy has caused a formal challenge from the Waitangi Tribunal regarding the Education and Training Act. The Tribunal concluded that the government's decision to reduce these obligations broke the principles of partnership and active protection. Furthermore, the Tribunal asserted that using select committees is not a good substitute for working together with Māori to design these laws. They also warned that these reforms could increase the disadvantages faced by Māori interests. At the same time, the Conservation Amendment Bill has caused tension with Ngāi Tahu. The iwi argues that changing conservation boards from decision-making bodies to advisory groups removes their guaranteed roles in governance. While Conservation Minister Tama Potaka claims the government wants 'equivalence' in the new system, Ngāi Tahu emphasizes that having to negotiate outcomes 'to the greatest extent possible' weakens their previous legal settlements.

Conclusion

Although the Waitangi Tribunal recommended that the government stop the reforms and start co-designing them with Māori, the Government has indicated that it will continue with the changes.

Learning

⚡ The 'Power Scale' of Verbs

To move from A2 to B2, you must stop using only simple verbs like do, make, or change. You need to show how much something is happening. In this text, we see a battle over the "strength" of words.

Look at these three levels found in the article:

1. The Strong Level (B2 Power):

  • Giving effect to →\rightarrow This means making it happen completely. It is an active, strong command.
  • Guarantee →\rightarrow A promise that cannot be broken.

2. The Middle Level (Transition):

  • Standardize →\rightarrow Making things the same (more precise than just "fixing").
  • Design →\rightarrow Creating a plan (more professional than "making").

3. The Weak Level (Low Pressure):

  • Take into account →\rightarrow Just thinking about it, but not necessarily doing it.
  • Advisory →\rightarrow Giving a suggestion that can be ignored.

🛠️ Upgrade Your Vocabulary

Instead of saying "The government changed the law," a B2 student describes the impact of the change. Compare these:

A2 (Basic)B2 (Nuanced)Why it's better
The law is smaller.The legal power is reduced.Reduced sounds professional and precise.
It is a bad thing.It weakens the settlement.Weakens describes the process of losing strength.
They are not working together.It breaks the principles of partnership.This uses a 'collocation' (words that naturally fit together).

Pro Tip: When you want to sound more fluent, ask yourself: "Is this action strong, weak, or neutral?" Choosing the right verb on the scale is the fastest way to hit B2.

Vocabulary Learning

standardize (v.)
To make something uniform or consistent across all parts.
Example:The new policy aims to standardize the way data is recorded across all departments.
inconsistencies (n.)
Differences that cause contradictions or errors.
Example:The report highlighted several inconsistencies in the company's financial statements.
obligations (n.)
Duties or responsibilities that must be fulfilled.
Example:Employees have a legal obligation to follow safety regulations.
references (n.)
Mentions or citations of something.
Example:The article includes numerous references to recent studies.
lower (v.)
To reduce the level or amount of something.
Example:The council decided to lower the tax rate for small businesses.
requirements (n.)
Conditions that must be met.
Example:Applicants must meet all the requirements before their application can be processed.
formal (adj.)
Official, not informal.
Example:He sent a formal letter to the committee.
concluded (v.)
To finish or decide after consideration.
Example:After reviewing the evidence, the jury concluded that the defendant was guilty.
principles (n.)
Fundamental truths or rules.
Example:Honesty is a core principle in our organization.
partnership (n.)
A relationship where two parties work together.
Example:The partnership between the two companies led to innovative products.
substitute (v.)
To replace one thing with another.
Example:You can substitute sugar with honey in the recipe.
negotiating (v.)
Discussing to reach an agreement.
Example:They were negotiating a new contract for the project.
weakens (v.)
To make something less strong or effective.
Example:The new policy weakens the company's ability to compete.
co-designing (v.)
Designing together collaboratively.
Example:The team is co-designing the new app with users.