Should the Public Have Free Entry to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
14 August 2007

Poll Outcome

Yes – 91%
No – 9%

To clarify you can go on the grounds without paying, it's just the Marae & Treaty House you pay to enter, which some believe is fair enough. While on the surface this seems to be a minor issue, it has caused much ideological debate up and down the country. Many believe that paying to go on to the Marae and Treaty House is fair considering the upkeep and restoration funds constantly required to maintain the buildings. Others hold the view that such an important historical site should be open to all New Zealanders for free, almost as a birthright.

United Future Position:

United Future believes that New Zealanders deserve to be able to visit the Treaty grounds and relevant buildings for free.

We recognise the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of New Zealand and believe it still has an important role to play. The Treaty provides the framework for a unique relationship between tangata whenua and the many other people of diverse cultures who make Aotearoa New Zealand their home. For this reason United Future believes that it is important to make the Treaty and the Treaty grounds as accessible to people as possible.