Te Pāti Māori will demand the establishment of a new parliamentary commissioner with the power to overrule Parliament if proposed legislation violates Te Tiriti o Waitangi, should they form part of a government.
Party co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer announced the new policy to journalists ahead of their pōwhiri at Waitangi, where they are today being welcomed on to the Treaty Grounds alongside members of Waikato-Tainui and the Kīngitanga.
In a statement released alongside the media stand-up, Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer said their party would campaign on creating an independent Parliamentary Commissioner, who they described as an “advocate ensuring that Te Tiriti is honoured across all government policies and decisions made in Parliament”.
“The commissioner would have the role of auditing the government in being honourable of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It will provide independent advice to Parliament, and ensure Māori voices are central to decision-making processes,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
The statement called on all political parties to support the policy.
NZ Herald
Morons of the Day
Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer said their party would campaign on creating an independent Parliamentary Commissioner.
Latest
Throwing Good Money After Bad Is Easy When It’s Not Yours
‘Snowy 2.0’ is costing billions and may never be finished: it’s time to stop.
Time for Cable Street 2.0
This time, the left are playing the role of Mosley’s Blackshirts.
Quick Hit: Own It, Both Of You
National pledges a digital trans-Tasman trial before the 2028 T20 World Cup. Hipkins says he and Albanese agreed it in 2023. Luxon says you need National to get things done. The row is about credit, not caution. Own it, both of you.
Hipkins the Hypocrite
Hipkins called Harry Mowbray’s split-vote campaign an absolute rort by wealthy entrenched interests. Under MMP an overhang is a feature, not a loophole. Chippy only hates it when his mates aren’t running it. If it is absolute fraud, rule Te Pāti Māori out. He will not.