Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty is one of New Zealand’s foundational documents and has been the source of great debate and contention over the years. Up until the 1970s, the prevailing political attitude was that the Treaty was a nullity and its true intent and meaning went into a period of insignificance for most New Zealanders. Today the Treaty is considered to be one of the major sources of New Zealand’s constitution that established the New Zealand government and guide the relationship between the government and Māori. We provide an overview of the Treaty and its meaning and effect on businesses today. Whatever the reason or motivation a particular organisation might have for acknowledging the relevance of the Treaty, it is increasingly becoming an accepted norm of business in Aotearoa New Zealand.