Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The values of te ao Māori reinforce the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the way we support Māori people to determine their own course of life (tino rangatiratanga). Supported decision-making is one way to do this at a day-to-day level.

What does te Tiriti say?

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (te Tiriti) has been described as Aotearoa New Zealand’s own statement of human rights. Te Tiriti provides the basis for the relationship between the Government and Māori. There are three main articles of te Tiriti:

Article 1 is about kāwanatanga/governance. Government has rights and also responsibilities to involve Māori in decision-making.
Article 2 is about tino rangatiratanga/self-determination. Māori have collective rights and responsibilities, including being able to protect and develop Māori resources, knowledge, language, and other taonga (things that are valued).
Article 3 is about rite tahi/equality. All New Zealanders have equal rights as citizens and Government should work to make sure that Māori have equal opportunity and outcomes.

Some ways to give effect to te Tiriti include:

building relationships with Māori and involving them in meaningful ways
engaging in ways that ensure cultural safety
seeking to understand and include Māori values, views, and aspirations in your work
providing information in accessible and culturally responsive ways
showing respect for the things that Māori say are important to them
honouring the decisions Māori make for themselves
recognising and taking steps to address the inequities and discrimination that make it harder for Māori people to have equal opportunities and outcomes.

Cultural Responsiveness and Supported Decision-Making

Anyone can support a Māori decision-maker. When we think about supported decision-making with a Māori decision-maker, the values of te ao Māori can help guide us. By using Māori models as guiding frameworks, the supported decision-making process can:
ensure a holistic approach that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of a Māori individual and their whānau
empower the individual to make decisions that are aligned with their cultural values and beliefs
facilitate the active involvement and support of the whānau, recognising their central role in the decision-making process
incorporate Māori cultural practices and protocols (tikanga and kawa) to create a culturally safe and responsive environment
promote the well-being of the individual and the whānau throughout the decision-making journey.

In practice some examples are:

Recognising different preferences around tikanga, or cultural practices and allowing space for these as part of the process. For example, karakia, mihi, whanaungatanga.

Whanaungatanga is about making connections with a Māori decision maker, understanding their relationships with other people, places, and their whānau history. Be committed to knowing, respecting and valuing:

who people are
where they come from
what is important to them and their whānau
their hopes and aspirations for a full and meaningful life.

Whakamana te tangata is about upholding the dignity of the person and their whānau. Respect the person, respect the whānau and be committed to working together.

Be ready and willing to use supported and collective decision-making approaches, such as decision-making with whānau.
Support Māoritanga (Māori culture and ways of being) from the person's point of view, recognising that people have different experiences.

For further guidance on supporting a Māori decision maker visit "Understand how Māoritanga is important”.

Find out more

Updated on 17 July 2025