History Repeats: The Crown’s Pursuit of Profit

Confiscations in the 1860s and today’s Treaty rollbacks share the same intent: resources, profit, and power.

By Dr Harpreet Singh | drhsinghnz.substack.com | FB: @DrHSinghNZ

When power seeks profit, justice becomes its first casualty. - Dr Harpreet Singh

Author’s note: The current coalition government is not simply reforming policy; it is reviving the same colonial playbook that drove the raupatu (confiscations) of the 1860s. Its mission is clear: seize control of resources, capture profits, and consolidate power. For National, ACT, and New Zealand First, and for the interests that bankroll them, Māori are framed as an obstacle to the wealth of this nation. The relentless assault on Treaty principles is no accident. It is a calculated, systematic campaign to strip Māori influence and funnel benefits to the Crown and the richest few, while eroding the foundations of partnership and justice in Aotearoa.

The 1860s: Confiscation and Control

In the 1860s, the Crown confiscated more than a million acres of Māori land under the New Zealand Settlements Act. Officially, this was punishment for “rebellion.” In reality, it was a strategy to dismantle Māori authority, seize fertile land, and fund colonial expansion. These confiscations, known as raupatu, were not just about territory; they were about control of resources and the profits those resources could generate. Land was the foundation of wealth in the colonial economy, and transferring it from Māori to settlers ensured that economic gains flowed to the Crown and its allies. The social and economic consequences still echo today.

Today’s Coalition and Its Agenda

Fast forward to the present. New Zealand’s coalition government, made up of the National Party, ACT New Zealand, and New Zealand First, has launched a programme of legislative reform that critics say mirrors the same logic: centralising power, reducing Māori influence, and prioritising economic development and profit over Treaty-based partnership.

The government’s agenda includes reviewing 23 statutes that reference Treaty principles, replacing the Resource Management Act with laws that narrow Treaty obligations, reinstating binding referenda on Māori wards, and prioritising English-first branding in public agencies. While framed as efficiency and “one law for all,” these moves have drawn strong opposition from legal experts, the Waitangi Tribunal, and thousands of submitters who argue they undermine Māori rights and constitutional safeguards. Many analysts note that these reforms clear the way for faster development and greater profitability for private interests, often at the expense of Māori participation in decision-making.

Warnings from the Waitangi Tribunal

The Waitangi Tribunal has warned that these policies breach fundamental Treaty principles: partnership, active protection, and rangatiratanga. Its reports highlight a pattern: when Māori influence over governance is reduced, so too is their ability to protect land, water, language, and cultural priorities. Meanwhile, the government’s economic narrative, focused on growth, infrastructure, and resource development, positions Treaty obligations as obstacles rather than foundations. Critics argue that this narrative is not just about efficiency; it is about maximising profit from land, water, and minerals under rules set by the Crown.

Parallels Across Time

The parallels with the 1860s are striking. Then, the Crown sought to secure land and silence Māori political authority to unlock economic gains for settlers. Today, it seeks to streamline decision-making and accelerate development, often by weakening mechanisms that give Māori a voice. The language has changed, but the underlying strategy, control of resources and the profits they produce, coupled with the removal of Māori veto points, remains familiar.

Why This Matters

Constitutional integrity and social equity are not luxuries; they are the bedrock of a just democracy. When Treaty commitments are diluted, the risk is not only to Māori but to the legitimacy of governance itself. History teaches us that dispossession, whether through muskets or modern statutes, leaves deep scars. Profit-driven policy that sidelines partnership risks repeating those mistakes.

From 1860 to today, from confiscations to rollbacks, the Crown’s strategy has remained constant: control the resources, capture the profits, and silence Māori influence in governance. Today, National, ACT, and NZ First are repeating history, driving a systematic rollback of Treaty principles to consolidate power and wealth for the Crown and the wealthy few, at the expense of Māori and justice.