Minister for Māori Crown Relations

The Minister for Māori Crown Relations is a minister in the New Zealand Government responsible for overseeing Te Arawhiti, the Office of Māori Crown Relations.

Minister for Māori Crown Relations
Incumbent
Tama Potaka
since 27 November 2023
Ministry of Justice
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister of New Zealand
AppointerGovernor-General of New Zealand
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation2017
First holderKelvin Davis
Salary$288,900[1]
Website[1]

Role and responsibilities edit

The role was created in October 2017, following the 2017 New Zealand election and the formation of the Sixth Labour Government. Its first occupant was Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis; Davis had initially expected to be appointed Treaty Negotiations minister, but his Ngāpuhi heritage proved to much of a conflict of interest, due to Ngāpuhi and the Crown's ongoing efforts to broker a Treaty settlement.[2]

The portfolio differs from the similar Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations portfolio, which is responsible for brokering Treaty settlements between Iwi and the Crown, and is instead responsible for ensuring the that Government honors its settlement commitments with Māori.[2] The minister is also responsible for coordinating significant Māori/Crown events, ensuring engagement between the government and Māori is meaningful, and providing ministerial oversight of Te Arawhiti, the Office of Māori Crown Relations.[3] During the Sixth Labour Government, the holder of the portfolio chaired the Cabinet Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Committee.[4]

List of ministers edit

Key

  Labour   National

No. Name Portrait Term of office Prime Minister
1 Kelvin Davis   26 October 2017 27 November 2023 Ardern
Hipkins
2 Tama Potaka   27 November 2023 present Luxon

References edit

  1. ^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination" (PDF). parliament.nz. 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b Moir, Jo (2 November 2017). "Kelvin Davis too 'conflicted' by Ngāpuhi ancestry to be Minister of Treaty Negotiations". Stuff. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet". DPMC. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. ^ "(MCR) Cabinet Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Committee". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023.