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New Zealand Prime Minister delivers apology to Māori tribe for past violations of the Treaty of Waitangi – JURIST

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Monday delivered an apology speech on behalf of the Crown to the Māori Tribe Ngāti Maniapoto for violations of the Treaty of Waitangi.Ardern stated:The Crown apologises for the devastating long-term prejudice its acts, omissions and violations of Te Ōhākī Tapu nd te Tiriti have caused you. Ngāti Maniapoto did not receive the economic benefits from Te Ōhākī Tapu that the Crown had led you to expect. As a result, your hapū and whānau have faced significant socio-economic deprivation and lived in worse conditions than non-Māori. You were prevented from reaching your full social and economic potential and had to fight to maintain your Maniapoto identity and language.The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 and is an agreement between the Crown and Māori chiefs “to protect Māori culture and to enable Māori to continue to live in New Zealand as Māori” while giving the Crown the right to govern New Zealand. Ardern acknowledged grievance claims submitted to the New Zealand government as early as the 1980s that were not settled. The Maniapoto Deed of Settlement documents was signed on November 11, 2021, and will return 36 cultural sites and $165 million NZD ($104,500,000 USD) to Māori persons in compensation.