The Relevance of Te Tiriti O Waitangi in the COVID-19

Abstract

I highlight how te Tiriti o Waitangi is relevant to state and Māori regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting also that it was somewhat ignored by Aotearoa New Zealand's state institutions. I argue that te Tiriti requires joint Māori and state regulation over territories and people in Aotearoa New Zealand, that the state government regulate equitably and that the state not interfere unreasonably with Māori culture. The state government needs to do more to act constitutionally and with legitimacy.