185 years of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

February 6 2025 marked 185 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our nation's founding document. In honour of that monumental milestone, Climate Action Aotearoa invites you to reflect on the place Te Tiriti o Waitangi has in your home, workplace, and community.

What does honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi look like to you? What does it feel like? Allow yourself to imagine the vision of our tūpuna and forefathers who signed that document all those years ago. Allow yourself to dream 185 years into the future, what does that Aotearoa look like? How do we get there, together?

If you can’t imagine, hīkina te wero - take up the challenge of further educating ourselves on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the history of our nation by attending local hui and reading up on your local Waitangi Tribunal Report.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers a blueprint for an inclusive, progressive Aotearoa. One that recognises the wrongdoings of the past, honours tino rangatiratanga, seeks equitable outcomes and protects our unique and precious taiao (environment).

Below is an excerpt from our Climate Action Aotearoa, Treaty Principles Submission:

Climate Action Aotearoa is dedicated to advancing climate justice and fostering environmental stewardship for the benefit of all communities in Aotearoa. Rooted in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we believe that a just transition to a climate-resilient future must be grounded in tika—equity, fairness, and respect for people and whenua alike. Our commitment is to support Māori communities, particularly iwi and hapū, in their leadership role in addressing climate change and environmental degradation.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a profound social justice issue. The impacts of climate change are not felt equally, and Māori, particularly those in rural and coastal communities, are among the most vulnerable to its effects. Rising sea levels, drought, and other climate-related disasters disproportionately affect Māori communities, and any response to climate change must be built on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to ensure fairness, equity, and justice for all. A just transition must involve Māori as equal partners and leaders in climate action, respecting and uplifting their tino rangatiratanga over their whenua and resources. By working in true partnership with Māori, we can develop climate solutions that are grounded in both modern science and traditional Māori knowledge, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for everyone in Aotearoa.

Key recommendations for climate action:

• Support Tino Rangatiratanga: We advocate for the restoration of traditional Māori governance structures (kaitiakitanga) over land, water, and natural resources. This will ensure sustainable land use, biodiversity restoration, and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

• Integrate Māori Knowledge in Policy: Māori knowledge, or mātauranga Māori, should be fully integrated into the development of climate change policies and strategies. Māori worldviews and values must be embedded in decision-making processes at all levels of government.

• Prioritise Climate Justice for Māori Communities: Climate justice requires that resources for climate adaptation and mitigation be distributed equitably. Māori communities, particularly in rural and coastal areas, need access to the tools, support, and resources to build resilience against climate impacts, including sustainable housing, energy solutions, and land management practices.

• Ensure Māori Leadership in Climate Action: Māori leadership is essential to addressing the climate crisis. Any climate response framework must recognise Māori as leaders and equal partners, ensuring that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is honoured in all aspects of our climate strategy.

  
  

Māori leadership and the recognition of the pre-existing rights of Māori over their whenua and resources are essential to securing a positive future for Aotearoa. By honouring the partnership envisioned in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we can foster a unified, resilient, and climate-conscious future that is grounded in respect for both tangata and whenua.

Toitū te whenua, Toitū te Tiriti,

Climate Action Aotearoa