Kia ora John, 

Today, we’re commemorating 180 years since Te Titiri o Waitangi was signed. 

Waitangi Day is an opportunity for us all to pause and reflect on our lessons as a nation, as well as a chance to look forward to the kind of aspirational Aotearoa we want to leave for our tamariki mokopuna – one where everyone can participate fully.

Since coming into Government, we’ve been working hard to honour the values of Te Tiriti, and deliver for Māori. Today, on Waitangi Day, we wanted to share some of our progress so far, and acknowledge the mahi left to do. 

One of the most important changes we’ve made over the past two years is a commitment to teaching our history to our tamariki. By 2022, New Zealand history will be taught in all schools and kura throughout Aotearoa. 

Māori unemployment is at some of its lowest levels in 10 years, and we have 8000 Māori, including many rangatahi, currently in apprenticeships. 

We’re also helping to secure the future of te reo Māori. We’ve just graduated 500 teachers and support workers who are in our schools teaching te reo Māori, while also investing in Kōhanga Reo to encourage our youngest speakers. 

Housing is one of the biggest issues facing Aotearoa, and we know this has a huge impact on many whānau. It’s been a priority issue for us since day one, and so far, we’ve helped more than 2000 more Māori families into public housing. We’re also empowering iwi-led Housing First services to help end homelessness, and we’re improving access to healthy, affordable homes. Our work on papakāinga and housing repair programmes has been a key part of this.

This is just some of the work we’ve done to tackle the long-term challenges facing Māori. But as Jacinda Ardern said at Waitangi earlier this week, there is more mahi to do - and we aren’t stopping now. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a living document and a living partnership – one where we must be honest when we fail, but constantly work to uphold and respect its values such as manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, and whakawhanaungatanga.

We’ll be guided by these values as we continue to build a better Aotearoa for today, and for future generations.

Mauriora, nā

Meka Whaitiri me Willie Jackson

Labour Māori Caucus Chairs