OPINION: A Personal Reflection on Te Tiriti o Waitangi's Role in New Zealand’s Future
Waitangi Day is not just a time to mark the signing of the Treaty in 1840, it is a day to reflect on where we are
Venus Rangi
now and where we are heading, writes HPF's Health Promotion Lead – Māori, Venus Rangi
I am a middle-aged Māori Tongan wahine, born in the urban jungle. I have lived a life shaped by the complexities of identity and culture. My whānau is diverse, with biological children of Niuean whakapapa, and whāngai children and mokopuna who are a rich mix of Irish, Tuvaluan, Cook Island, African, Fijian, Samoan and many more heritages. We embrace their diverse cultures and religions.
Despite this richness, I grew up in an environment where my connection to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, my iwi, and my whenua was almost non-existent. I first heard of Te Tiriti during high school when Whaea Hinerangi Puru, spoke of it and encouraged me to join the Māori Women’s Welfare League. That moment sparked my curiosity, and through research, discussions, learning, and lived experiences, I've come to deeply appreciate the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
I don’t claim to be a scholar, or an expert or hold a PhD, rather, I am a tutū, someone eager to seek knowledge, listen, learn, and grow.
With Waitangi Day approaching, I think about how far we’ve come and the mahi still ahead. This past year, Te Tiriti has been at the forefront of conversations across the country, reminding us of its enduring significance. On one hand, there is a deep sense of hope and pride. I celebrate seeing Te Reo Māori becoming a natural part of daily life for both Māori and non-Māori. Cultural practices are being reclaimed, with moko kauae and tā moko standing as powerful symbols of identity and pride. Kapa haka is thriving, performed on stages both locally and internationally.
All these practices creating safe space for my whānau to begin our journey of reconnection and identity reclamation.
Then on the other hand, I acknowledge the challenges that remain. I feel it in the nervousness that arises within me when friends and colleagues question Te Tiriti. When New Zealanders ask ‘why are we still having these conversations? why does it matter today?' Or suggest that Te Tiriti is a historical document with no place in our present or future. I hear it in the casual dismissals, or the notion that this is a Crown responsibility and not everyday New Zealanders as if Te Tiriti has no bearing to our present or future. These casual remarks leaving me feeling unsettled, or hesitant to engage.
These casual remarks still linger in our beautiful country. And as I grow in my journey and my adulthood, and in my identity, I know, that while these conversations are uncomfortable, they are necessary. They remind me that while some of us have walked a path of learning, understanding, and embracing the Treaty’s significance, others are still at the beginning of that journey. And just as I once had to learn, I remind myself that patience, dialogue, and education are part of the work we must all do.
The introduction of The Treaty principles Bill has only affirmed these sentiments, reflecting the tension that still exists in Aotearoa about the Treaty’s role in shaping our future. Some view the Bill as a divisive force, while others see it as a necessary step toward reaffirming Māori rights and responsibilities.
The Toitu Te Tiriti movement activated more than 80,000 participants (including my mokopuna) to "Hīkoi mō te Tiriti" to Parliament, challenging the Bill. The movement calling for a united Aotearoa, that respects tangata whenua rights, upholds the principles of partnership, protection, and participation, and works toward a future where everyone can thrive, regardless of background.
The Bill generating so much interest that more than 300,000 submissions were received by Parliament, the highest ever for a Bill in New Zealand’s history. With more than 15,000 requests to present submissions orally, but only 80 hours were allocated for these testimonies. This overwhelming response shows that Te Tiriti is not just a topic for scholars and politicians, it’s personal for the people of Aotearoa. It affects us all, and how we choose to engage, learn and understand it will shape the country’s future.
I’m someone who values context and evidence. I seek understanding through research. Like many I go to Google when I want a quick overview, but I know Google Scholar will lead me to richer, more detailed (and sometimes over-complicated) literature to digest. As I write, I’ve also been able to listen to 'Treaty Talks,' a series with academics, lawyers, and experts sharing their perspectives on the history, the ongoing relevance and impact of Te Tiriti in shaping our legal, social, and healthcare systems. These conversations emphasise the need for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the Treaty and encourage us to look beyond surface-level knowledge, focusing on how Treaty principles are being integrated into our systems today.
So, as I reflect on Waitangi Day, I think about both the celebrations and the ongoing challenges. Waitangi Day is not
just a time to mark the signing of the Treaty in 1840, it is a day to reflect on where we are now and where we are heading.
It’s a day to celebrate the progress we’ve made, but also to confront the unfinished business of honoring Te Tiriti in a way that reflects its true intent.
In healthcare, for example, the Treaty principles have slowly reshaped how services are provided to Māori. The healthcare system, which once excluded Māori, Matauranga Māori and practices, is slowly becoming more inclusive. The Waitangi Tribunal’s findings have led to reforms that emphasise partnership between the Crown and Māori to ensure that healthcare is culturally appropriate and responsive. The Treaty’s principles of partnership, protection, and participation have become central to modern health policies that aim to reduce disparities and empower Māori to take an active role in their health journey.
Our health system has also demonstrated that embedding the principles of Te Tiriti in our frameworks enables us to respond better to all our diverse communities. However, there’s still much work to do. Māori health disparities remain stark, with Māori facing higher rates of chronic illness, mental health challenges, and lower life expectancy. These disparities are not just statistics,they represent real people and families, struggling against years of systemic barriers.
Addressing these inequities requires true, meaningful and responsive ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti principles. It requires not just the Crown’s action, but also a cultural shift within society, where Māori voices are heard and respected in all areas of decision-making.
While many might dwell on the timeframe, and expect magic to have occurred, we must acknowledge that the Treaty may have been signed in 1840, but it took over 100 years for the Treaty to be implemented into government legislation.
This only occurred with the establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975, the 1987 Court of Appeal Lands Case hearing, and the integration of Treaty principles into social policy in the 1980s and 1990s.
The ongoing debates, movements, and discussions about the Treaty show that we still have work to do to fully implement its principles in a way that serves everyone in Aotearoa.
As we move forward, it is crucial that we all continue to engage with the Treaty, whether Māori or non-Māori, not as a point of division but as a shared foundation for a better, more equitable future. We must honour the promises made in 1840 and commit to ensuring that the Treaty’s principles are lived out in every facet of our society.
We should be proud of those who have come before us and set the pathway for those who are coming. We should celebrate that the Treaty has enabled us to be Tangata Whenua or Tangata Tiriti because Aotearoa is the only place we can be these. For Māori, for non-Māori, and for the generations yet to come, the Treaty remains integral to our history and should be integral for our united future.
References:
• Durie, M. (2001). A Framework for Māori Health: Treaty Acknowledgment in Policy. Journal of New Zealand Public Health.
• Durie, M. (2016). Māori Health Models and Frameworks: From the Treaty to Practice. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved from https://teara.govt.nz/en/maori-health• Ministry of Health. (2020). Improving Māori Health Outcomes: Te Pae Mahutonga and Health Initiatives. New Zealand Government.
• Ministry of Health. (2000). Public Health and Disability Act 2000: Incorporating Treaty Principles into Health Policy. New Zealand Government.
• Ministry of Health. (2015). Whānau Ora: Māori Health Frameworks and Approaches. New Zealand Government.
• Royal Commission on Social Policy. (1988). The Treaty of Waitangi and Its Role in Social Policy. Retrieved from www.socialpolicy.org.nz
• Simpson, M. (2015). The 1987 Lands Case and the Legal Recognition of the Treaty Principles. New Zealand Law Review.• Waitangi Tribunal. (2019). Health Inequities and the Treaty: Investigating Claims of Health Disparities. Waitangi Tribunal Report. Retrieved from https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz
• Waitangi Tribunal. (2019). The Treaty and Healthcare: Investigating Breaches of Māori Health Rights. Retrieved from https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz
• Waitangi Tribunal. (2019). The Treaty and Healthcare: Investigating Breaches of Māori Health Rights. Retrieved from https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz
(*While I have not directly quoted or used dialogue from these texts, it is important to acknowledge their contributions to my thinking.