President’s Report Pepuere 2025
In light of recent kōrero about governance, rights and obligations, Te Hāhi Weteriana is called to state our position on important legislation including the Treaty Principles Bill and the Regulatory Standards Bill. Both bills, hold profound implications for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s political and social landscape, and the Methodist Church must navigate our stance on these issues carefully. For the Church, which has long been committed to the principles of justice and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, opposing both bills is a necessary act of faithfulness to our bicultural partnership, and to our theological commitment to justice and peace.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, signed in 1840, serves as the foundational document between the Crown and Māori, establishing a relationship based on mutual respect, partnership and protection of Māori rights, language, culture and land. Over time, Te Tiriti has become a living document, evolving through legal and political interpretations to reflect the ongoing journey towards reconciliation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Treaty Principles Bill proposes to establish a set of principles which would be used to guide government decision-making. While the intent behind the bill may appear to be one of clarifying and reinforcing the Crown’s obligations, there are significant concerns among Māori and the wider public about how the bill will also undermine the spirit of Te Tiriti partnership. Te Hāhi Weteriana, given our historical commitment to justice and to living out our covenantal relationship with Māori, has a particular responsibility to stand against any legislation that may erode or weaken te tino rangatiratanga o ngā iwi me ngā hapū. The core issue with the Bill lies in its potential to entrench the Crown’s interpretation of Te Tiriti at the expense of Māori rights guaranteed in Te Tiriti.
By focusing on abstract principles rather than a clear commitment to active, good-faith partnership, the bill will place limitations on Māori aspirations for land, resources and cultural revitalisation. For the Methodist Church, the Bill represents a profound contradiction of our mission to work for social justice and equity. The Treaty Principles Bill, as it stands, perpetuates the imbalance of power between the Crown and Māori, undermining the intent of partnership and mutual respect in Te Tiriti. By opposing the bill, the Church has aligned ourselves with the ongoing efforts of Māori and Tauiwi organisations and groups to protect Māori rights and uphold Te Tiriti.
The Regulatory Standards Bill is another piece of legislation that warrants careful consideration by the Methodist Church of New Zealand. The underlying principles established in the proposed bill are broad, ambiguous and subjective. The proposed bill deliberately excludes Te Tiriti o Waitangi and makes no reference to the rights of Māori to exercise tino rangatiratanga guaranteed in Te Tiriti.
The principles laid out in the bill prioritise the protection of individual, private property rights while dismissing any collective property rights and interests such as those of iwi and hapū. The bill lacks evidence-based regulatory decision-making processes that align with international guidelines and principles. As a result it fails to prioritise environmental interests and excludes any acknowledgement of tikanga Māori in regulatory processes, such as Kaitiakitanga that often informs environmental sustainability methodology and practice.
While regulatory frameworks are necessary for ensuring accountability and transparency, the concerns regarding the Regulatory Standards Bill centre on its potential to impose centralised control over iwi and hapū collective property rights and could potentially impact negatively on environmental protections that are not taken into consideration in any detail. The Bill has vested a significant amount of authority in the Minister for Regulation, essentially centralising power with the Minister/Ministry with little accountability for public/Te Tiriti interests.
For the Methodist Church, this bill represents another opportunity to stand in solidarity with Māori in their ongoing efforts to retain tino rangatiratanga over their cultural, social, and economic practices. By opposing the Regulatory Standards Bill, the Methodist Church sends a strong message that the voice of Māori communities should not be diluted by over-reaching government intervention and that Māori have the right to determine their own paths forward. We take a stand now against injustice, support Māori land rights, advocate for social justice in times of poverty and inequality, and challenge discriminatory policies. It is crucial for Te Hāhi Weteriana to continue to stand in opposition to such legislation as a faithful witness to the values of justice, equity and respect for all people.