Te Tiriti o Waitangi

What is Te Tiriti?

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document which today's Aotearoa New Zealand is built upon. The treaty is a broad statement of principles made to found a nation state and government by the British and Maori. The treaty principles include:

• Partnership: Partners have a duty to act reasonably and in good faith.
• Freedom: Government by the Crown.
• Protection: The Crown has an active duty to protect Maori interests.
• Rangatiratanga: Maori retain autonomous authority over their resources and taonga and have all rights and privileges of citizenship.
• Communication: The Crown has a duty to consult with Maori.
• Compromise: The needs of Maori and the wider community must be met.
• Responsibility: The Crown cannot avoid its obligations under the treaty by conferring authority on some other body.
• Adaptation: The treaty can be adapted to meet new circumstances.
• Tino rangatiratanga includes management of resources and other taonga according to Maori culture.
• Taonga include all valued resources and intangible cultural assets.

The 3 Ps

Partnership

Participation

Protection