New Zealand, Māori and Treaty of Waitangi

Protests and a New Zealand leader's absence overshadow a day marking the founding treaty with Māori
The bill's architect, David Seymour, met with protests at Waitangi marae — a Māori meeting house — during speeches by political leaders on Wednesday, as he made a fresh pitch for the law. The measures are widely derided and prompted tens of thousands of people to march on Parliament in Wellington last November.
New Zealand marks anniversary of its founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, with quiet protests
New Zealand on Thursday marked the anniversary of its founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. The day came with quiet protests of government officials by some Māori leaders amid a national period of fractured race relations and the absence of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon from a gathering of politicians and Māori tribes which the country's leader traditionally attends.
New Zealand's Waitangi Treaty may be at risk. These young Māori are fighting to protect it
Rotorua, a cultural hub for New Zealand's Indigenous Māori people, shaped Flavell's journey as a proud Māori activist. Exposed to both culture and politics from a young age, he began participating in demonstrations at just 10 years old.
New Zealanders celebrate national day amid debate over founding treaty
Thousands gathered across New Zealand on Thursday to celebrate the signing of the country’s founding document and some called for an end to government policies that critics say erode the rights promised to the Indigenous Maori population.
Waitangi Day in New Zealand overshadowed by treaty controversy
Waitangi Day in New Zealand is marked by controversy as Māori leaders condemn a proposed bill to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, sparking protests and political tensions.
New Zealand Embassy commemorates Waitangi Day
The New Zealand Embassy in the Philippines commemorated Waitangi Day on Feb. 6 at the Ambassador's Official Residence in Makati City. The event celebrated Aotearoa's heritage and highlighted the strengthening ties between the two countries.
Waitangi Day: Thousands gather in NZ as Māori rights in focus
Thousands of people have attended events in Waitangi in northern New Zealand, to celebrate the country's national day.
The Spinoff7d
What did the Māori chiefs say before the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840?
The Spinoff presents a simplified transcript of the speeches at the treaty signings in Waitangi, Hokianga and Kaitāia.
Unwritten rules: why claims of a missing ‘fourth article’ of the Treaty don’t stack up
Some say an oral promise of religious protection read out at Waitangi in 1840 amounts to a fourth article of the Treaty. But ...
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Treaty of Waitangi Anniversary: Tensions and Traditions
The Treaty of Waitangi's anniversary passed quietly amid political strains in New Zealand. Prime Minister Luxon avoided the main event, with controversy over a proposed law redefining the treaty's ...
If Christopher Luxon hoped to avoid Waitangi Day controversy, it backfired
Analysis - The prime minister's attendance at Ōnuku marae saw protest, distraction and delay. And it underlined his absence in the north.
The Treaty Principles Bill’s promise of ‘equal rights’ ignores the blind spots of our democracy
For as long as we’ve had democracies, majority rule has left some in the minority worse off. We need to be talking about what ...
The Spinoff3d
Waitangi 2025: A day of kōrero, kaupapa and kotahitanga
One belief was virtually universal within the Waitangi forum tents: existing as Māori is inherently political.
New Zealand's Waitangi Day chaos tells a very modern race relations story that Australians know all too well
New Zealand turned 185 on Thursday. Tensions are running high on the eve of the country's national day, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the Crown in 1840. On ...