Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill

2: Commencement

You could also call this:

“When this law starts working depends on what New Zealand voters decide”

This proposed law suggests that before it can become active, you and other voters in New Zealand will need to decide if you want it to happen. Here’s how it would work:

The government would ask you and other voters a question in a special vote called a referendum. The question would be: “Do you support the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 2024 coming into force?” You would have two choices: “Yes, I support it” or “No, I don’t support it”.

If most people vote “Yes”, the new law would start working six months after the voting results are announced. But if most people vote “No”, the law would be cancelled the day after the results are announced.

There’s also a time limit. If the law doesn’t start within five years after the Queen or King of New Zealand signs it, it will be cancelled.

Sometimes, if there are problems with the first vote, a court might say it needs to be done again. In that case, there would be a new referendum.

Remember, this is just a proposed change. It’s not the law yet, but it explains how this new law would be put into action if it gets approved.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1003437.

Topics:
Māori affairs > Treaty of Waitangi
Government and voting > Elections
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“What this law is called and what it's about”

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3: Purpose, or

“This bill explains the Treaty of Waitangi rules and how to use them”

2Commencement

  1. If a majority of electors voting in a referendum respond to the question in subsection (2) supporting this Act coming into force, this Act comes into force 6 months after the date on which the official result of that referendum is declared.

  2. The wording of the question to be put to electors in a referendum for the purposes of subsection (1) is—

  3. Do you support the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 2024 coming into force?

    1. The wording of the 2 options for which electors may vote in response to the question is—

    2. Yes, I support the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 2024 coming into force.
      1. No, I do not support the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 2024 coming into force.

        1. If a majority of electors voting in a referendum respond to the question in subsection (2) that they do not support this Act coming into force, this Act is repealed on the day after the date on which the official result of that referendum is declared.

        2. This Act is repealed if it does not come into force under subsection (1) within 5 years after the date on which it receives Royal assent.

        3. In this section, referendum—

        4. means a referendum providing electors with an opportunity to decide whether this Act should come into force; and
          1. includes any fresh referendum required to be held if the High Court, on a petition, declares the referendum under paragraph (a) to be void.