Riia: The Battle Over Tino Rangatiratanga in New Zealand

In recent months, the concept of tino rangatiratanga has sparked intense debate and discussion across New Zealand. Tino rangatiratanga, which translates to “our own autonomy” or “our own governance,” is a term used by Māori to describe their right to govern themselves and make decisions that benefit their community.

The debate over tino rangatiratanga has been fueled by the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill in Parliament. The bill aims to amend the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act to include the concept of tino rangatiratanga, which would grant Māori the power to govern themselves and make decisions that benefit their community.

One key figure at the forefront of this debate is Te Rauparaha o Toa Rangatira, a renowned Māori leader and activist. In an interview with RNZ, Te Rauparaha spoke about the significance of tino rangatiratanga.

“Tino rangatiratanga is not just about Māori; it’s about helping everyone,” she said. “It’s about providing better solutions and actually fixing things that are objectively undeniably broken in the system.”

Te Rauparaha emphasized that tino rangatiratanga is not a zero-sum game, where non-Māori would be disadvantaged. Rather, she believes that it would bring equitable outcomes for those affected by colonization.

Another key figure in this debate is ACT leader David Seymour. In a video shared on the ACT Party’s social media page, Seymour expressed his disagreement with Te Rauparaha’s interpretation of the bill.

“If you want to disagree with me, that’s fine, but you’ve got to explain how it’s going to work to have a society based on two different types of people… when actually there isn’t two types of people, there are just human beings,” Seymour said.

Seymour argued that tino rangatiratanga is not the solution to Māori issues. Instead, he believes that a more inclusive approach would be needed to address these problems.

The debate over tino rangatiratanga has also been fueled by protests and demonstrations across New Zealand. On November 19, 2024, thousands of people gathered in Wellington to protest against the Treaty Principles Bill.

The protesters, many of whom were from Māori communities, held signs that read “Kill the bill” and “Tino rangatiratanga now.” They demanded that the government take action to address the historical injustices faced by Māori and grant them the autonomy they deserve.

In conclusion, the debate over tino rangatiratanga is a complex one, with different perspectives and opinions on what it means and how it should be implemented. While some, like Te Rauparaha, believe that it holds the key to unlocking equitable outcomes for Māori communities, others, like Seymour, argue that a more inclusive approach is needed.

Ultimately, the fate of tino rangatiratanga hangs in the balance, as New Zealanders continue to debate and discuss what this concept means for their country’s future.