Source: Radio New Zealand
The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll asked respondents what they thought about the Treaty of Waitangi in terms of its influence on the government’s decision-making. RNZ / REECE BAKER
More voters think the Treaty of Waitangi has too much influence on government decisions rather than too little, according to the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll.
Voters have also had their say on whether New Zealand’s Prime Minister should be in Waitangi for Waitangi Day commemorations, with a majority thinking attendance is very or somewhat important.
This term has seen Treaty issues come to prominence, and often met with protest.
While ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill, which according to its text sought to define the principles to “create greater certainty and clarity to the meaning of the principles in legislation,” was voted down at second reading last year, ACT leader David Seymour has promised to reignite the debate this election year.
The government is undertaking a separate piece of work, borne out of National’s coalition agreement with New Zealand First, to review references to the Treaty principles in 23 different laws, and will either replace the reference with specific wording that explains their relevance or application, or remove them entirely.
It is also reviewing the Waitangi Tribunal.
A thousand respondents were asked “thinking about the influence the Treaty of Waitangi has over government decision making, do you think it is too much, about the right amount, or too little?”
The most popular response was “too much,” with 38.1 percent, but “about right” was close behind on 31.4 percent.
Just under 17 percent thought the Treaty had “too little” influence, while 11 percent did not know.
Broken down by party lines, it follows a reasonably predictable track.
Just under half of Labour supporters thought it was “about right,” while those thinking it was “too much” or “too little” were relatively split.
That is compared to just over half of National voters who thought the influence was “too much”.
Just under two thirds of New Zealand First supporters also think there is “too much” influence, as do a majority ACT supporters – overwhelmingly on 81.6 percent.
More Green Party and Te Pāti Māori supporters meanwhile believe there is “too little” influence.
Should the PM go to Waitangi?
The Prime Minister is yet to share his plans for Waitangi Day this year.
Last year, Luxon did not attend the National Iwi Chairs Forum on the 4th or the ‘political day’ at Waitangi on the 5th, and spent Waitangi Day itself with Ngāi Tahu at Ōnuku Marae.
That will not be an option this year, with Ngāi Tahu heading to the Treaty Grounds.
Voters were asked “how important is it for New Zealand’s Prime Minister to be in Waitangi on Waitangi Day?”
Most said it was very or somewhat important, with 32 percent saying it was very important the Prime Minister attends, and 29.8 saying it was somewhat important.
Just over 15 percent said it was not very important, while just over 16 percent said it was not at all important.
Supporters of opposition parties were more likely to say it was important for the Prime Minister to attend, with 51.1 percent of Labour voters, 48.5 percent of Green Party supporters, and 55.6 percent of Te Pāti Māori supporters saying it was “very” important.
On the government side, 12 percent of National supporters thought it was very important, along with 10 percent of ACT supporters.
New Zealand First supporters were more evenly split.
This poll of 1000 people was conducted by Reid Research, using quota sampling and weighting to ensure representative cross section by age, gender and geography. The poll was conducted through online interviews between 15-22 January 2026 and has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
