Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi have led to long-term and ongoing poor health and well-being outcomes for many Māori in Te Rohe Pōtae (King Country), the Waitangi Tribunal has found.

On Tusday 9 June, the Tribunal released pre-publication versions of two chapters comprising part V of Te Mana Whatu Ahuru: Report on Te Rohe Pōtae Claims.

Parts I to IV of the report were released between September 2018 and December 2019. The report addresses 277 claims concerning Crown actions in Te Rohe Pōtae after the Treaty was signed on 6 February 1840.

Part V will address issues of education and health, as well as claims relating to particular geographic areas in Te Rohe Pōtae.

Part V also concludes the report’s general discussion of the Treaty relationship in the district and the effects of the Te Ōhākī Tapu agreements between Te Rohe Pōtae Māori and the Crown by addressing claims related to health, alcohol consumption and control, socio-economic conditions, education, and the use and development of te reo Māori.

As discussed in earlier parts, the Te Ōhākī Tapu agreements (1883–85) promised to give local effect to the Crown’s Treaty guarantee to preserve Māori authority (rangatiratanga) and control over their lands and affairs (mana whakahaere).

The Tribunal found that, without meaningful consultation and without meeting tests of last resort, the Crown undertook the largest takings for public works in New Zealand history in the King Country district during the twentieth century.