Arapono
Election CentrePartiesPolicies
Learn
Log inSign up free
Data sourced from:
New Zealand ParliamentElectoral CommissionStats NZNew Zealand TreasuryRadio New Zealand (RNZ)Beehive
Arapono

Navigating New Zealand Politics

An independent, non-partisan political information platform for New Zealanders.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Learn

  • Find what matters to you
  • Your Plan
  • How Parliament Works
  • Glossary
  • About Arapono
  • Our Sources

Explore

  • Command Centre
  • Elections
  • Battlegrounds
  • Interactive Map
  • MPs Directory
  • Party Policies
  • Budget 2026
  • Bills Tracker
  • Take Action

Account

  • Sign Up Free
  • Log In

Legal

  • Help & FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Submit a Correction

© 2026 Arapono. All rights reserved.

Arapono is an independent platform. All information is sourced from official NZ government and electoral sources. We are not affiliated with any political party.

All parties on Democracy & Government
Democracy & Government · Party position

Te Pāti Māori on Democracy & Government

Te Tiriti-based constitutional change and Māori political authority

Te Pāti Māori wants to change how New Zealand is governed so that Māori have real power and authority over decisions that affect them. They want the Treaty of Waitangi to be the foundation of the country's constitution, and they want to strengthen Māori governing structures. They also want to return land and make sure gains made by Māori cannot simply be reversed by future governments.

What they say they'll do

  • Establish a Matike Mai Fund to resource Māori-led constitutional work
  • Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Establish an Independent Te Tiriti Commission
  • Make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding
  • Strengthen Māori political authority and governance structures
  • Progress land back and rangatiratanga commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Who this affects

Māori communities (hapū, iwi, whānau)
The proposals would make Te Tiriti obligations legally enforceable on the Crown and give Māori greater formal authority over constitutional decisions that affect them.
All New Zealanders
A Te Tiriti-based constitutional transformation would change how the government is legally bound to act, affecting how laws and decisions are made at a national level.

In their own words

“Te Tiriti should not depend on who wins an election. For too long, governments have been able to weaken, remove, or ignore their Te Tiriti obligations.”
“Without constitutional transformation, every gain our people make can be undone by the next government.”
“This is not about Parliament giving Te Tiriti its authority. Parliament did not create Te Tiriti; it is about binding the Crown to the promises it already made”
Verify at Te Pāti Māori — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from Te Pāti Māori’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-09) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Democracy & Government →

Coverage at a glance

Which party holds a published position on which topic.

Open the compare tool →

Swipe across to see all 11 topics — the party column stays put.

PartyEconomyHousingHealthEducationClimateEnvironmentCrime & JusticeTreaty & Māori AffairsImmigrationForeign PolicyDemocracy & Government
National
Published position∅ No stated position (verified) Not captured yet
Labour∅∅∅∅∅∅
Green
ACT
NZ First
Te Pāti Māori
TOP
Also contesting, without seats in Parliament
Women’s Rights
Animal Justice
ALCP
Conservative
Outdoors & Freedom
Vision NZ
Alliance
Free Palestine
NZ Loyal∅
Te Tai Tokerau∅