The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 established the Waitangi Tribunal and gave the Treaty of Waitangi recognition in New Zealand law for the first time. The Tribunal was empowered to investigate possible breaches of the Treaty by the New Zealand government or any state-controlled body, occurring after 1975. It was also empowered to recommend, but not enforce, remedies.
Although the Treaty had been a focus of Māori protest for several years by 1975, many Māori were unhappy with the Act. Most of the significant breaches of the Treaty, such as land confiscation in the New Zealand Wars, had occurred in the nineteenth century, and the Tribunal was powerless to investigate these. Some people (Māori as well as others), including many in the National Party opposition, opposed the Act on the grounds that it would be divisive.
Read more about Treaty Of Waitangi Act 1975: 1985 Amendment, 1988 Amendment, 1988 Amendment (State Enterprises), 1993 Amendment, 2006 Amendment (Maori Purposes Bill), Other Amendments, Debates
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