New Zealand politics has been drawn into turmoil following an effort by the incumbent government’s coalition partner to alter the way in which the Waitangi treaty is interpreted. This has led to concerns that this push by the ACT party could lead to social division and result in an erosion of rights for people from a Maori background.

Stephen Hill asked Law Professor Alexander Gillespie of the University of Waitako what are the political implications of the effort to amend the foundational treaty between the crown and the indigenous people of New Zealand.

Image: Shutterstock, stock photo: 1029664210: Maori Protesters For Unfair Treaty. February 6 2018 in Waitangi NZ. New Zealand public holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Produced By: Stephen Hill

Featured In Story: Professor Alexander Gillespie, Department of Law, University of Waitako

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 20 November 2024