MEDIA STATEMENT

24 January 2015
TPP signals perilous times ahead for Treaty rights

The Māori Party vows to hold the Government to account this year on meeting its Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

Both Co-leaders and party supporters are at the annual Rātana celebrations near Whanganui today to honour the legacy of Tahupōtiki Wīremu Rātana. Rātana was a strong advocate of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and honouring the responsibilities it placed on Māori and the Crown.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox says the party will not support any free-trade agreement that impinges on the Treaty rights of Māori.

“We know there is a Treaty exception clause in the TPPA which states that any rights arising from Tiriti o Waitangi are not subject to the dispute settlement provisions of the TPP.

“However the exception clause leaves it up to the government of the day to interpret our Treaty rights. Successive governments have failed to uphold Te Tiriti so we can’t trust the Crown on its own to interpret those rights.

The Māori Party has long campaigned for constitutional change that would properly recognise the Treaty partnership between Māori and the Crown. Those proposals include establishing an Upper Treaty House in Parliament and establishing a Parliamentary Commissioner for the Treaty.

Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says while the Māori Party has come to enjoy the festive anniversary commemorations, Rātana understood the importance of Māori having political influence in Parliament to affect change.

“There are a raft of important Treaty-based issues on the table this year and we want to assure people that we will be focused on ensuring that the Crown meets its Treaty obligations,” says Mr Flavell.

“The Māori Party has worked hard to ensure that the Crown meets its Treaty responsibilities in areas like the management of natural resources and water. It has also supported stronger Treaty-based relationships between the Government and Māori that result in better outcomes for everybody.”

“The beginning of the political year is a great opportunity to debate these important issues on the marae. We look forward to hearing from our people,” says Mrs Fox.

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