Community Engagement Report for developing a National Action Plan Against Racism Pou 1: Whakamana tino rangatiratanga Empower and restore tino rangatiratanga through constitutional transformation For Tangata Whenua, the vision and pou of tino rangatiratanga and constitutional transformation were one. The Tangata Whenua vision is one of self-determination, individual agency, autonomy, freedom and safety to be Māori, to be able to live on their land, and to choose their own destiny. In addition to Tangata Whenua being able to exercise these basic freedoms and human rights, there was a vision of an equal relationship with the Crown as set out by te Tiriti. This relationship would be one in which the indigeneity of Tangata Whenua is recognised through a te Tiriti partnership with the Crown, and where Tangata Whenua had equal power to make decisions concerning Aotearoa. New Zealand Human Rights Commission In essence, the vision articulated by Tangata Whenua is one where they have the rights, freedoms and rangatiratanga as exercised by tīpuna at the time te Tiriti was signed. This is an Aotearoa where: • Māori governed themselves • the Crown governed Tangata Tiriti • both Māori and the Crown came together to make decisions on issues of joint interest. Of course, the world in which Māori live today is different to the one in which tīpuna lived. Since te Tiriti was signed, Tangata Whenua have had to navigate a world built on outdated and racist legislation, policies, actions and processes. This pou has been divided into four further subsections: recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, constitutional transformation, upholding tino rangatiratanga and kāwanatanga responsibilities. 35