Waitangi Tribunal: Disability system breaches Te Tiriti principles

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the Crown breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in its disability services, stating tāngata whaikaha Māori voices have been "made invisible" within the system. The report was released Thursday as part of the Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry. The tribunal found the Crown prejudiced Māori disabled people by failing to involve them in system design and delivery, lacking consistent data standards, and underfunding kaupapa Māori providers. It also identified specific breaches for kāpō Māori, tāngata turi, and those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The inquiry heard from 48 claimants over 11 weeks between 2022 and 2024. The tribunal recommended the Crown establish partnership models co-designed with tāngata whaikaha Māori and uphold tino rangatiratanga principles in future disability system delivery.