Abstract:
Since 1840, after signmg the Treaty of Waitangi with representatives of the Crown. Maori have been colonised and marginalised. The Treaty guaranteed Maori rangatiratanga and
control over their resources. However, New Zealand governments have failed to honour the
Treaty. Although Maori have continuously struggled for self-determination, their claims were
typically not addressed and the Treaty was regarded as a simple nullity and a fraud.
Nonetheless, the state has been more sympathetic to the rangatiratanga of Maori since the
fourth Labour government initiated a series of unleashed neo-liberal reforms in 1984. On the
surface, the attitude change and the implementation of neo-liberal policy is a coincidence.
However, the study will argue that such sympathy is to disguise an underlying denial of
honouring the Treaty.
