Kia ora and welcome to A Kiwi Perspective, the podcast where we unpack big ideas and national debates from our uniquely Aotearoa vantage point. Today’s topic is arguably the most foundational — and the most fiercely contested — document in New Zealand’s history: the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty is everywhere. It’s in our political debates, our education system, our courts, our protests. It’s cited as both a sacred covenant and a colonial tool. Some see it as the basis for genuine partnership and nation-building. Others view it as a legal fiction or a historical burden. So today, let’s confront the controversy head-on: What is the Treaty of Waitangi, really? How has it shaped — and warped — our country? And where do we go from here?