Understanding New Zealand parties on race, equal treatment and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen. Understanding how the political system works before voting is a useful way to make your own decision, especially when political debates use unfamiliar language or refer to New Zealand history that you may not have studied before.

For the 2026 general election, it helps to separate three questions:

• Racial discrimination: Should everyone be treated the same regardless of ethnicity, and what should happen when people experience discrimination?
• Equal treatment: Does fairness mean giving everyone the same rules, or can it mean taking different action to address unequal circumstances?
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi: What responsibilities does the government have towards Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, under the agreement signed in 1840?

These questions overlap, but they are not identical. Two political parties may both say they support equality while disagreeing about what equality requires in law, public services, education, health care or government decision-making.

I'll explain the basic system first, then compare the main parties' approaches using their documented positions and recent policy debates, rather than telling you which party to support.

1. The basic concepts

What is Te Tiriti o Waitangi?

Te Tiriti o Waitangi, commonly called the Treaty of Waitangi in English, is an agreement signed in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and many Māori chiefs.

Māori are the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Crown refers to the government and state acting on behalf of the Crown.

The agreement is important because it concerns the relationship between Māori and the Crown, including authority, land, rights and protection.

There are two main texts: one in te reo Māori and one in English. Their wording differs in important places, especially concerning the authority Māori would retain and the authority the Crown would exercise. That difference is one reason people disagree about what the Treaty requires today.

Three Māori concepts often appear in political discussions:

• Tino rangatiratanga: broadly, Māori authority, self-determination or the ability to exercise authority over matters important to Māori. Its precise meaning is debated.
• Kāwanatanga: governance or governorship, associated with the authority granted to the Crown in the Māori text.
• Ōritetanga: equality or equal status, although translating the Treaty and applying its meaning involves more than a single word.

The Treaty also contains a guarantee concerning Māori possession of their lands, homes and treasured things, and its English text refers to the Crown's protection of Māori.

These are simplified explanations, not complete legal definitions.

Why do political parties disagree about it?

The disagreement is not simply between people who support equality and people who oppose it. It is also about what equality means in a country with a particular history.

Consider three different approaches:

Approach A: The same rules for everyone

Government services, laws and opportunities should generally operate without making distinctions based on ethnicity. Support should be based on individual needs rather than race wherever possible.

Approach B: Equal rights, with targeted support where needed

Everyone has equal rights, but particular communities may need specific programmes to address disadvantages, including those connected to historical discrimination or unequal access to services.

Approach C: Equality must also recognise the Treaty relationship

Māori have rights and interests arising from their status as tangata whenua (people of the land) and from Te Tiriti. Fairness can therefore require Māori participation in decision-making, recognition of Māori authority, or Māori-specific institutions and services.

These approaches can overlap. For example, someone can believe that everyone deserves equal legal protection and also believe that the government has special obligations under Te Tiriti.

The central question is often whether treating people fairly requires identical treatment, targeted assistance, recognition of collective rights, or some combination of these.

What does racial discrimination mean in New Zealand law?

New Zealand already has laws against unlawful discrimination. The Human Rights Act 1993 covers race, colour, ethnic or national origins and other characteristics in areas such as employment, education, housing and the provision of goods and services. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act also protects against discrimination by government and other public bodies performing public functions. The Human Rights ActNew Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

There is an important distinction between:

• Unlawful discrimination: treatment that breaches applicable anti-discrimination law.
• A policy that treats groups differently: this is not automatically unlawful. Its legality depends on the law and circumstances.
• A policy designed to reduce disadvantage: New Zealand's Bill of Rights Act expressly recognises that good-faith measures to assist disadvantaged groups can be consistent with freedom from discrimination. The Human Rights ActNew Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

For example, a Māori-focused health service might be intended to improve access to care. Supporters may argue that it addresses specific barriers; critics may question whether ethnicity should determine access to a service. The relevant questions include the programme's purpose, evidence, eligibility rules and legal basis.

This distinction is important when you hear a party say it opposes "race-based policies." Ask which policy it means and what it would replace it with.

2. How the main parties differ

The following is a guide to the major parties' general approaches and the policy debate around the 2026 election. It is not a claim that every candidate in a party agrees on every issue.

Current policy announcements can change during an election campaign, so check the linked party policies before making your final comparison.

National Party

General approach: centre-right; emphasises individual opportunity, economic management and common rules.

National's current governing approach has included changes intended to give government institutions a more uniform, less ethnicity-specific focus. Its 2026 programme also stresses economic management and public-service delivery. 2026 Election PolicyPolicies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

On these issues, consider whether you agree with:

• Applying common rules and service standards across ethnic groups.
• Limiting or changing programmes specifically designed for Māori.
• Maintaining Treaty commitments while changing how they are interpreted or implemented.

Question to investigate: Which Māori-specific services would National retain, change or remove, and what evidence does it give about the results?

Official policies: National Party — 2026 election policies

ACT New Zealand

General approach: classical liberal and right-leaning; puts strong emphasis on individual rights, equal citizenship and limiting government distinctions based on ethnicity.

ACT has been a leading advocate for defining the principles of the Treaty more narrowly in legislation. Its approach argues that fundamental rights and political status should not depend on ethnicity, and that major constitutional changes should have democratic consent. The 2026 debate continues to include questions about how Treaty principles should be used in law. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Where the parties stand on democracy and equality issues

Consider:

• Whether you favour the same formal rules for all ethnic groups.
• Whether a government should recognise particular Māori rights or forms of authority under Te Tiriti.
• How much constitutional change should be decided through a referendum or Parliament.

Question to investigate: What would ACT's preferred interpretation mean for existing Treaty obligations, Māori representation and public services?

Official website: ACT New Zealand

New Zealand First

General approach: populist and socially conservative in some areas; stresses national identity, sovereignty and common citizenship.

New Zealand First has challenged policies it sees as giving different treatment or political status to people based on ethnicity. It has also advocated restrictions on some uses of Treaty principles and supported stronger emphasis on New Zealand citizenship and national identity. Its wider platform includes immigration and cultural issues. As New Zealand First pushes culture-war policies, analysts warn of limited appealPolicies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

Consider:

• Whether equal citizenship should mean a common set of political rules.
• Whether the Treaty requires distinct protections for Māori.
• Whether you support its broader approach to immigration, identity and national sovereignty, which is separate from its Treaty policy.

Question to investigate: Which Treaty-related laws or institutions would New Zealand First change, and how would it protect rights recognised under existing law?

Official website: New Zealand First

Labour Party

General approach: centre-left; combines universal public services and equal rights with recognition of Te Tiriti and targeted action on disadvantage.

Labour's party principles explicitly state that basic human rights apply regardless of race and that the Treaty should be honoured in government and society. Its 2026 policies include Māori-led training to help Māori gain skills and access better-paid work. Party InformationLabour's 2026 Election Policies

Consider:

• Whether you support both universal services and additional programmes for groups facing specific barriers.
• Whether Māori-led delivery is an appropriate way to improve services.
• Whether Labour's proposed measures are sufficiently clear, funded and accountable.

Question to investigate: How would Labour measure whether Māori-specific programmes improve outcomes, and how would it balance these with services available to everyone?

Official policies: Labour Party — 2026 election policies

Green Party

General approach: progressive; places strong emphasis on human rights, reducing inequality, Māori rights and a more substantial role for Te Tiriti in public decision-making.

The Greens generally support Treaty-centred decision-making and measures intended to address systemic disadvantage. They are part of the political debate over Māori authority, Māori representation, language and culturally appropriate public services. The 2026 election policy comparison includes issues such as Māori participation in governance and targeted services. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Where the parties stand on democracy and equality issues

Consider:

• Whether historical injustice creates responsibilities for present-day governments.
• Whether Māori should have stronger influence over decisions affecting Māori communities and resources.
• How targeted programmes and constitutional reforms should be designed and held accountable.

Question to investigate: What specific legal or institutional changes would the Greens make to give effect to Te Tiriti, and what safeguards would apply?

Official website: Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori

General approach: Māori rights, self-determination and Treaty-based constitutional change are central to the party's programme.

Te Pāti Māori advocates a much stronger role for Māori authority in government and public services. Its published policy calls for Māori-led health, education, disability and justice services, alongside constitutional reform based on Te Tiriti. In September 2026, it announced a proposal for an independent Te Tiriti Commission and for Waitangi Tribunal recommendations to become binding on the Crown. PolicyTE PĀTI MĀORI LAUNCHES TE TIRITI ENTRENCHMENT POLICY

Consider:

• Whether you believe the Treaty requires a stronger form of Māori self-determination.
• Whether Māori-led services and decision-making would improve outcomes.
• How constitutional reforms should protect the rights and democratic participation of all New Zealanders.

Question to investigate: How would the proposed constitutional arrangements work in practice, including how authority would be shared and how disagreements would be resolved?

Official policies: Te Pāti Māori

3. A side-by-side comparison

This table summarises the broad direction of the parties' approaches, not every policy or the views of every member.

Party	Equal treatment and race	Approach to Te Tiriti
National	Emphasis on common rules and service delivery	Supports Treaty obligations but has backed changes to how they are implemented
ACT	Strong emphasis on equal individual citizenship and limiting ethnicity-based distinctions	Favours a narrower, more clearly defined interpretation of Treaty principles
NZ First	Emphasis on national identity and common political rules	Challenges some ethnicity-specific arrangements and interpretations of Treaty principles
Labour	Universal rights and services, alongside targeted support where needed	Supports honouring the Treaty and Māori-focused initiatives
Greens	Emphasis on reducing structural disadvantage and protecting Māori rights	Supports a stronger Treaty-centred approach to government
Te Pāti Māori	Emphasis on Māori rights, collective interests and self-determination	Advocates major Treaty-based constitutional change

Sources for comparison: Policy.nz's 2026 Te ao Māori comparison, National's policies, Labour's policies, and Te Pāti Māori's policies. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 20262026 Election PolicyLabour's 2026 Election PoliciesPolicy

A few cautions when using this table:

• Parties may agree on the goal but disagree about the method.
• A party's general philosophy does not tell you exactly how it will vote on every bill.
• A campaign promise is not the same as an enacted law or a demonstrated outcome.
• You can support equal rights while disagreeing with a party's position on Treaty interpretation.

4. What does this mean for you as a new citizen?

You do not need to identify with any ethnic group, or agree with a party on every issue, to vote. You can decide which policies and principles matter most to you.

It may help to examine how each party would approach situations that could affect everyday life.

At work

Would you prioritise strong enforcement against racial discrimination, common employment rules, or additional measures to improve opportunities for groups that face barriers? These goals can coexist, but parties may disagree about which measures work best.

In health care and education

Should services be designed in the same way for everyone, or should Māori communities have more Māori-led services where these help address particular needs? What evidence should determine whether those services continue?

In government and law

Should Te Tiriti mainly guide the government's relationship with Māori within existing democratic institutions, or should it lead to more substantial changes in how political authority is shared?

In schools and public life

How much emphasis should there be on teaching New Zealand history, te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Treaty obligations? What should the government do to preserve Māori culture while serving a diverse population?

These are questions you can use to assess parties' policies, not questions with one required answer.

5. How your vote works

New Zealand uses a system called MMP (Mixed Member Proportional). At the 2026 general election, you will have two votes. What is MMP?What happens in a general election?

1. Party vote

You choose the political party you want represented in Parliament. This largely determines how many seats each party receives.

2. Electorate vote

You choose a local candidate to represent your electorate. You can choose a candidate from a different party than the one you choose for your party vote.

A party generally needs at least 5% of the party vote or to win an electorate seat to qualify for seats in Parliament. Parties often negotiate with other parties to form a government. What is MMP?

For the 2026 election, voting day is Saturday, 7 November 2026. Advance voting begins on 26 October. If you have not enrolled yet, the Electoral Commission says you need to enrol by 25 October to vote in this election. Check the official Vote NZ website for eligibility, enrolment and voting information. What happens in a general election?Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026

6. A simple way to decide what matters most to you

Rather than starting with party names, start with your own principles. You can use the questions below to organise your thinking.

One final point: as a citizen, you can assess these issues from your own experience of New Zealand, without having to adopt anyone else's political identity. You can also disagree with a party on Te Tiriti while agreeing with it on anti-discrimination law, or the other way around.

The most useful question to keep asking is: What exactly would this party change, who would be affected, and what evidence supports its explanation? That question works for campaign slogans from every side.

waitangi.org.nz