Rawiri Waititi & Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Governance
Te Pāti Māori's central policy is a $220 million, four-year Mātike Mai Fund to independently support Māori-led constitutional work, including an independent secretariat, nationwide constitutional discussions, and the start of a Māori Constitutional Convention working toward a 2040 constitutional-transformation target — 200 years after Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed. The party would also create a Te Tiriti Commission with the power to investigate serious Crown breaches of Te Tiriti, require remedial action, and issue binding Te Tiriti Compliance Orders; make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding on the Crown rather than advisory as they are today; and restore and resource a national action plan for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with work starting within its first 100 days in government.
Economy
The party's tax policy includes a 48% income tax rate on income over $300,001, a rebate for those earning under $30,000, a wealth tax, a higher company tax rate, and new land-banking, vacant-house and stamp-duty taxes.
Security
Te Pāti Māori has pledged to abolish prisons by 2040, replacing them with community-based alternatives.
Infrastructure
The party proposes a $1 billion fund to support Māori and community ownership of renewable energy projects.
Education
Te Pāti Māori would establish a Māori Education Authority to give Māori communities greater leadership over Māori education, alongside increased investment in kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura and wānanga; expanded school lunch programmes; free public transport for all students; free school counselling; and te reo Māori as a core curriculum subject through Year 10.
- 2026 New Zealand general election — Wikipedia
- Election 2026: Te Pāti Māori Unveils $220m Plan to Make Te Tiriti Obligations Enforceable — Waatea News
- #election2026: Te Pāti Māori Pledges Māori Education Authority to Return Decision-Making to Māori — Waatea News
- Factbox: The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government — Reuters via Internazionale
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