WELLINGTON (AFP) – Maori leaders have urged King Charles III to intervene in New Zealand politics, seeking support as they fight a conservative government accused of watering down Indigenous rights.
Representatives of some 80 Maori tribes have signed a joint letter appealing to the British monarch’s “sense of justice”.
Tens of thousands marched through New Zealand’s capital in November, rallying against a conservative push to redefine the nation’s founding treaty.
“Your new coalition government elected on October 14, 2023 has promised to attack (the treaty) and the rights of our whanau,” read the letter, using a Maori word for family.
“As a constitutional monarch of the crown and a descendant of Queen Victoria, we seek your intervention to ensure that the government does not diminish the crown’s honour.”
Charles remains New Zealand’s head of state but is bound by convention to avoid domestic political meddling. The letter was sent to Charles in mid-November but came to light on Wednesday evening.
Co-author Margaret Mutu said on Wednesday the letter raised “grave concerns about the actions of the current government”.
