MONDAY is Waitangi Day, a national holiday and a chance to consider the evolving relationship between Maori and other New Zealanders. One person who will take time to be with her family is historian Dame Claudia Orange, the Director of Collections and the Research Group at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, who has published widely on the Treaty of Waitangi. Jennifer Niven asked Dame Claudia about Ko Aotearoa Tenei and the Constitutional Review…
Ko Aotearoa Tēnei (‘This is New Zealand’) is the Waitangi Tribunal report considering the place of mātauranga Maori in contemporary New Zealand law and government policy. Mātauranga Maori includes language, science and technology, laws, history and ceremonies, as well as art forms such as weaving and haka. This year the government will also begin a Constitutional Review – a consideration of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements including the matters of Maori representation and the role of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The report says that New Zealand is at a crossroads in its race relations. Is that how you see it?
That’s been said many times. I suppose we are at a crossroads once again. We’re closer to having solved historical claims, having had hearings through the Waitangi Tribunal, and a lot of research has been done. Clearly the role of the tribunal is also to deal with contemporary claims, such as screening legislation that goes to Parliament in case it also breaches the Treaty.
What does the report say is the next step?
Although a lot has been done in terms of building a good relationship between Maori and Crown and Maori and other New Zealanders there is still a lot that could be done. We need the will to do it. There is only so much that New Zealanders can do and it ultimately rests with government to take the lead.
And even the name of the report supports that vision?
The report is named Ko Aotearoa Tēnei - ‘This is Aotearoa’ or ‘This is New Zealand’. It’s quite a challenge to both the government and to New Zealanders to see how we could blend Maori knowledge and approaches to public business, and how we could blend that Maori way of doing things and Maori views into our decision-making. It’s important too that Maori have quite considerable roles in consultation and advisory groups - like all of us they would like to be at the decision-making tables.
What is an example of one relevant law that needs to be reviewed?
One that could be named is the Resource Management Act, where Maori have had the opportunity, through the act, to take part in consultation and advisory bodies, but it has not worked well. I think it probably needs to be looked at hard. Local government always has difficulties and it’s uneven throughout the country.
What will happen during the upcoming Constitutional Review?
It hasn’t hit the public consciousness yet, but an advisory group has come together and we are going to be asked as New Zealanders later this year to express our opinion on some important constitutional questions.
What is the most important thing that the Constitutional Review will address?
The need to decide what are the changes that will enable our Parliament to be both strong and fairly represent the diversity of our country including Maori.
Is Waitangi Day a significant day for you?
Yes it is. I think it’s a time for New Zealanders to be with family and friends and to reflect on what a great country this is and how we can make it even better.
How will you spend the day this year?
I’m not giving any talks this year – I’m spending the day with my family in Auckland.

What’s on this Waitangi Day, February 6 • Tora! Tora! Tora! music festival, Tora Coast, Wairarapa, February 4-6.
• Open Day and Waitangi Celebration, Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt, 9am-2pm.
• Festival of the Elements, Te Rauparaha Park, Porirua, 11am-7.30pm
(Includes the launch of Gavin Bishop’s The House that Jack Built in English and Te Reo Maori.)
• One Love concert, Foxglove and the Queens Wharf Ballroom, 1pm.
• Cat Ruka’s New Militia concert, Te Papa, 1pm-3pm.
• Maori Arts Gallery, Waterfront Walkway, Frank Kitts Park, 10.30am-4.30pm.
• Wrights Hill Fortress Open Day, Karori, 10am-4pm.
• Kapiti Coast Waitangi Day, Campbell Park, The Parade, Paekakariki, 10am-4pm.