RACS is strongly opposed to the Treaty Principles Bill which seeks to redefine the legal meaning and effect of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). This poses a threat to established legal and policy frameworks within which we currently operate. The Bill fundamentally changes the meaning of Te Tiriti without any engagement with Māori as its Treaty partner. The Bill also removes the right of Māori to exercise Tino Rangatiratanga or self-determination over their own health and wellbeing. Each of these, and collectively, pose a major risk to equitable public healthcare and equal health outcomes for Māori.
Māori face barriers to equality that others do not, and many of those barriers are of the Crown’s making. Māori do not always have a level playing field with other New Zealanders. Equality without equitable treatment does not capture the promises made in Article 3 or Te Tiriti as a whole; equitable treatment is required to ensure equal outcomes.
We are concerned the Bill would, if passed, undermine attempts to lift Māori health outcomes through equity-based funding and health care.