Māori living in New Zealand who are not citizens will not be exempt from a new citizenship knowledge test being introduced for people applying for citizenship by grant. In March, Te Puni Kōkiri suggested that the Government consider how the test would apply to people who whakapapa Māori but were not born in New Zealand. Te Puni Kōkiri also recommended expanding the test to include greater recognition of Māori culture, Treaty rights and Māori interests. “Broadening the scope of the questions to inclusion of the Treaty rights, Māori culture and Māori rights and interests would be useful in articulating the importance of Māori and Māori culture as the indigenous people of this country. However, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said the citizenship test would apply equally to all applicants, regardless of their ethnicity or ancestry.