Professor Janine Hayward
Pākehā
Janine Hayward is a professor of New Zealand politics at the University of Otago. Her research focuses (amongst other things) on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles of the Treaty in relation to political representation, local government, and the New Zealand constitution. Her research career began at the Waitangi Tribunal and she has continued to provide reports and evidence for several claims to the Tribunal.
She is lead editor of the undergraduate textbook “Government and Politics in Aotearoa New Zealand” published by Oxford University Press.
The principles of the Treaty: Debates and legacies
The principles of the Treaty of Waitangi were first introduced to New Zealand legislation in 1975. Today, many laws refer to the principles. They are a guide for the Waitangi Tribunal and the courts to consider the Crown and other decision-makers’ actions in relation to a range of Treaty issues. But since they were first introduced, the Treaty principles have attracted debate and sparked controversy. Some people think they dilute the meaning and application of the text of Te Tiriti which provides clear guidance for decision-makers. Others think the principles are too vague and stretch the contemporary application of the Treaty too far. This discussion reflects on the legacy of the Treaty principles and what purpose they might play in the future for Aotearoa New Zealand.
