Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has received support from both senior Labour and Green MPs for the intent of her Members’ Bill, Members of Parliament (Duty to Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi) Legislation Bill -Te Pire mō te Here ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Greens Māori Development Spokesperson Huhana Lyndon, Māori–Crown Relations Spokesperson Steve Abel, and Labour spokesperson for Māori Development, Willie Jackson, have all voiced their support for the intention of the Bill, which would require all Members of Parliament to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Lyndon, Abel, and Jackson will now take the proposal to their caucuses for feedback and recommendations.
“This is a non-negotiable for the first steps into a cohesive left-bloc. Constitutional change must start somewhere; discussions and commonality must start somewhere. This is that first step” said Maipi-Clarke.
“The purpose of this Bill is to clean up the House before engaging the motu on the country’s role in upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi. There is currently no formal responsibility for MPs to do so, this Bill makes that obligation clear and non-negotiable.”
Maipi-Clarke says the Bill builds on Treaty obligations already placed on public servants under the Public Service Act 2020, addressing a key gap where those obligations don’t extend to MPs.
“This Bill closes that gap and tackles a deeper issue, the lack of any formal duty to uphold Te Tiriti in the Constitution Act 1986.
“By affirming Treaty obligations for MPs, we ensure Te Tiriti cannot be diminished through political decision-making. The past two years have shown how vulnerable those protections are without clear accountability” said Maipi-Clarke.
The Bill represents a significant step toward embedding Te Tiriti obligations at the highest level of government, strengthening accountability, consistency, and respect for Aotearoa’s founding covenant.
Good news all round