Act proposal to end Māori customary rights and Waitangi Tribunal is ‘foolish’ - Sir Douglas Graham

Opinion byDouglas GrahamNZ Herald·15 Sep, 2026 05:53 AM4 mins to readSir Douglas Graham is the former Minister of Treaty Negotiations. Sir Douglas Graham (left) says Act leader David Seymour's policy to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal and end Māori customary rights would probably provoke civil unrest.Former Treaty Negotiations Minister Sir Douglas Graham responds to Act’s election policy on Māori issues, including its promise to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal. The Act Party wants one law for all, with equal individual rights and duties, and undertakes to strengthen property rights. It dislikes any form of joint