Threatened Maori call on King to honour 1840 treaty

As New Zealand tries to roll back Indigenous rights, tribal leaders demand Charles steps in, writes Maroosha Muzaffar

- Maroosha Muzaffar

An umbrella group comprising at least 80 Maori tribes has sent an open letter to King Charles III demanding that he intervene in New Zealand politics and ensure the government honours its obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi.

Since taking office last year, New Zealand’s right-wing coalition government has faced unprecedented protests over its Maori policies, prompting large gatherings of Maori leaders and sharp criticism from the Waitangi Tribunal, which investigates breaches of the treaty.

The treaty, signed in 1840 by over 500 Maori chiefs and the British Crown, is seen as the cornerstone of Maori rights legislation in New Zealand.

The letter, drafted by the National Iwi Chairs Forum, was signed by more than 500 leaders and representatives and highlights growing tensions between Maori and the ruling right-wing coalition, which has introduced policies seen as undermining their rights – such as rollbacks on Maori language use in government and changes to treaty interpretations.

The open letter urged the King to use his role as a constitutional monarch and descendant of Queen Victoria to remind the government of its obligations, emphasising that Maori families and the treaty relationship were at risk.

What does the letter say?

The letter acknowledges King Charles III’s ties to the late Maori king, Tuheitia, and expresses hope for a strong relationship with the new Maori queen, Nga Wai Hono i te Po.

It talks about Queen Victoria’s role in establishing the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi and criticises the Crown’s historical breaches of its promises, noting that while Maori-Crown relations had recently improved, they have deteriorated under the current government.