ACT Party proposes restructuring and eventual disestablishment of Waitangi Tribunal

The ACT Party has proposed a policy to significantly restructure the Waitangi Tribunal, aiming to limit its jurisdiction to historical claims lodged by September 1, 2008. Under leader David Seymour’s plan, the Tribunal would lose its ability to investigate contemporary Crown policy and conduct, such as urgent or kaupapa inquiries. ACT intends to amend the Treaty of Waitangi Act so that the Tribunal is automatically disestablished once all eligible historical claims are resolved.

Seymour argues that policy decisions should remain the responsibility of elected governments and Parliament rather than a parallel tribunal, suggesting that future disputes be handled through the ordinary court system.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) has condemned the proposal. NZCTU President Sandra Grey stated that the Tribunal is a vital part of the constitutional landscape and accused the ACT Party of seeking to avoid accountability. NZCTU Vice President Māori Aubrey Wilkinson added that the Tribunal remains necessary to address ongoing inequities, including disparities in Māori employment and poverty levels.