3 | Human rights risks and challenges (b) Aotearoa New Zealand’s tangata whenua Building meaningful engagement and partnership with tangata whenua (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand) who make up 16.5% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population, will be a key to the enduring success of the tournament. As is the case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, tangata whenua experience structural and systemic disadvantage due to colonisation, including the confiscation and alienation by the Crown of the vast majority of Māori land. The relationship FIFA establishes and builds with tangata whenua will provide the essential platform for addressing both the risks and significant opportunities associated with the tournament. Te Tiriti o Waitangi,69 Aotearoa New Zealand’s foundational document, establishes the relationship between Māori and the Crown. It affirms the status of whānau, hapū and iwi as tangata whenua, and recognises their preexisting rangatiratanga (sovereignty and selfdetermination). It envisages a sharing of power and authority and a partnership of equals. Te Tiriti requires government to work in partnership, and share decision-making, with its Tiriti partners, and to respect and support the rangatiratanga authority of tangata whenua. Te Tiriti o and its principles (Partnership, Participation, and Protection) therefore creates the foundation and framework for engagement with Māori. The risks, opportunities and recommendations in, and arising out of, this section of the report are grounded in Te Tiriti and its principles (self‑determination, participation in decision-making, respect for and protection of culture, equality and non-discrimination). Stakeholder feedback reflected the importance of an opportunity focused approach. Opportunities for FIFA are discussed in section 5 of this report. The two key themes were: 30 • the importance of focusing on the opportunities as well as the risks, and • building genuine relationships early and over time. The starting point for the tournament must involve the creation of a relationship with mana whenua. Mana whenua are the tangata whenua that hold mana, i.e. have an ancestral connection/status with the stolen land on which the tournament will be held. Stakeholders in NZHRC’s mana whenua and tangata whenua-focused hui (community gathering) emphasised that once this relationship has been established, both parties can begin to work through what is wanted and what can be gained from the tournament in a mutually respectful way. Through FIFA’s relationships with mana whenua and other tangata whenua, more risks will come to light specifically around the opportunities both parties jointly decide to pursue. Risks Stakeholders warned against tokenistic engagement, for example using Māori culture and visual art with no action, systemic backing, or relationship behind it, or inadequate consultation. Te Tiriti affirms the position of tangata whenua as partners, rather than advisors or stakeholders to be merely informed of decisions. This extends to Māori being involved at the decision-making level in all parts of the event, not just ceremonial and visual aspects. A common mistake stakeholders identified is establishing a primary partnership relationship with local councils and engaging with their Māori teams who could be from anywhere around the country. This is not a substitute for creating a relationship with Mana whenua of the area. Failure to uphold and protect Indigenous knowledge and cultural integrity is a significant risk that has played out in many previous sporting events, which has involved dishonouring Indigenous tohu/symbols and toi/art. These risks can be mitigated by ensuring that tangata whenua are involved as decision makers, and have the final say about how their cultural property is managed.