Horizons Regional Council formally opposes Treaty Principles Bill

Horizons Regional Council chair Rachel Keedwell says the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill does not align with the council's operations. Photo / File

The Horizons Regional Council has voted to formally oppose the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, also known as the Treaty Principles Bill.

The council also voted last week to support the submissions from Te Uru Kahika - the collective of Aotearoa’s regional and unitary councils - and to speak to the council’s submission.

The bill made it through its first reading in mid-November.

Parliament’s justice committee will receive public submissions until January 7.

The bill proposes new interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi to replace principles that grew out of 50 years of Treaty debate and court cases.

“There is a misalignment between the bill and how we operate as a council and Treaty partner,” Horizons chair Rachel Keedwell said.

In its 2024 to 2034 10-year plan, one of the council’s strategic priorities was strengthening partnerships with tangata whenua.

Keedwell said those priorities did not align with the bill.

“Our strategic priorities and community outcomes guide the work of council and staff,” she said.

“They also ensure we uphold meaningful partnerships and connections with iwi and hapū who have statutory acknowledgement, whakapapa [ancestral ties] and tino rangatiratanga within our region.”

Keedwell said the council was concerned with the lack of certainty the bill introduced.

“The process the bill has taken has meant local government has been unable to feed into the bill. It has also meant that iwi and hapū have not engaged with the bill or the drafting of the proposed principles,” Keedwell said.

“Tangata whenua are invested in the work we do, particularly in environmental policy. They are actively involved in practical initiatives to enhance the well-being of te taiao [the natural world] and local communities.

“If Principle 2 as written in the bill remains unchanged, there will likely be inherent inequality and inequity for iwi who have not had Treaty settlements.

“There is significant uncertainty in how council may navigate this inequality and inequity, given the references to principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the Resource Management Act 1991, The Local Government Act 2002 and other relevant legislation,” Keedwell said.

“Horizons’ relationships with iwi and hapū are vital due to the deep connections tangata whenua have within our region. Those relationships are the basis for constructive dialogue, and assist council’s work to prioritise te taiao and resource use in ways that benefit everyone.

The council’s submission on the bill will be made public as part of the select committee process.