Insights from workshop creator Roimata Smail

“And importantly, the Tribunal doesn’t make up its own values. It sticks to what was agreed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which isn’t complex:

Māori retain authority over our own lives, lands, and resources: Tino rangatiratanga.

The Crown governs those who came later: Kāwanatanga.

In shared spaces, Māori and the Crown work together as equals: Partnership.”

“What’s often overlooked is that our politicians don’t necessarily know more about Te Tiriti than the rest of us. Many weren’t taught it in school. They’re not experts ‒ they’re human, like the rest of us, and often responding to political pressure rather than evidence.

That’s why we need institutions like the tribunal ‒ to provide facts, not slogans. To give Māori a safe place to be heard, and the Crown a safe place to learn.”

“This moment sparked something. It stirred everyone — from grannies to Gen Z. Thousands of everyday New Zealanders started asking questions, reading up, and tuning in. I had a 90-year-old Pākehā woman travel over an hour just to attend a library talk I gave. Others downloaded a draft submission template I shared and told me it was the first time they’d ever spoken up on an issue like this.

That’s powerful. Because it shows a shared view: We’re not okay with going backwards. Not on fairness. Not on our promises. Not on our future in partnership.”

“In my talks across Aotearoa, I’ve met countless people from all walks of life and ages who tell me they’ve never been taught the basics of Te Tiriti. They express frustration and even shame at not knowing what should be common knowledge.

But when they finally start to learn the facts, their excitement is palpable. It’s moments like these that remind me why this work matters: education transforms confusion into clarity and apathy into action.”

“In recent times our Courts have stepped up to finally recognise that the law in New Zealand is different from the law in other countries. 

From the Peter Ellis case where the Supreme Court looked to tikanga to find that reputation lasts beyond your lifetime and the case should continue after his death, to the two Whānau Ora Commissiong Agency judicial reviews on the COVID-19 where the High Court held the Ministry of Health’s decision making needed to reflect the Treaty of Waitangi.”