13.1 Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi

Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document and is one source of our constitution. It is an enduring and living document which laid the foundation for an ongoing and sustainable partnership between Māori and the Crown.
Various courts have recognised the principles of te Tiriti / the Treaty as including:
- rangatiratanga (chieftainship)
- reciprocity
- partnership
- active protection
- options
- mutual benefit
- the right of development
- redress
The Crown is the primary Tiriti / Treaty partner responsible for the Tiriti / Treaty relationship. However, under various statutes, Parliament has directed the council to give effect to certain principles and follow particular processes when making decisions that affect Māori. In particular, the principles and requirements in Parts 2 and 6 of the Local Government Act are intended to facilitate participation by Māori in council decision-making [1]. For further information see Section 10: How council decisions are made.
The council is committed to operating in a manner that recognises and respects the significance of te Tiriti / the Treaty. This commitment is set out in the Auckland Plan. To honour this commitment, the principles of te Tiriti / the Treaty should be used as a guide to inform the council’s approach when making decisions about matters affecting Māori.