None
EN
#election2026: Hipkins Promises to “Rebuild Relationships” as Labour Charts Different Course on Treaty and Language Debate
['Matthew Tukaki', 'Root', '--Ppa-Color-Scheme', '--Ppa-Color-Scheme-Active', 'Sourceurl Multiple-Authors-Widget-Css-Inline-Css', '.Pp-Multiple-Authors-Boxes-Wrapper.Pp-Multiple-Authors-Layout-Boxed.Multiple-Authors-Target-The-Content .Pp-Author-Boxes-Avatar Img', 'Width', 'Important', 'Height', 'Border-Radius']
Waatea News: Māori Radio Station
The Tribunal warned that weakening Treaty obligations could have long-term constitutional consequences and undermine confidence in the partnership established under Te Tiriti.
The Labour leader also defended his party’s decision to support legislation recognising English as an official language, a move that has generated significant debate.
Hipkins rejected suggestions that Labour’s support represented a retreat from its commitment to te reo Māori or bilingualism.
He argued that recognising English did not reduce the legal status or importance of te reo Māori or New Zealand Sign Language, both of which remain official languages protected under existing legislation.
#Tags:#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #ChrisHipkins #Labour #Election2026 #TeTiriti #WaitangiTribunal #TeAoMāori #MāoriPolitics #EnglishLanguage #TeReoMāori #NZPolitics #Treaty #CrownMāoriRelations #PublicPolicy #CurrentAffairs #Aotearoa #PoliticalNews #Democracy #Leadership #ElectionCampaign