Ngātiwai leader Aperahama Edwards Photo: Cole Eastham-Farrelly
An iwi leader who signed an open letter to King Charles asking him to "intervene" in policies affecting Māori says the New Zealand Government is just a "middle man".
Ngātiwai leader Aperahama Edwards is one of more than 500 Māori leaders from dozens of iwi who signed the letter to King Charles III.
Speaking to RNZ, Edwards said Charles is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria - the reigning monarch at the time the treaty was signed - and had the mana to intervene.
He said the government were representatives of the Crown, therefore, representatives of King Charles.
"This is a conversation between the descendants of the Ariki who signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the head of the Crown."
"Māori have always sought to strengthen that direct relationship, however, more often than not, the conversation starts and stops with the kāwanatanga, the government."
Edwards said the experience of Māori interacting with government has been "futile", so their request has gone right to the top.
"The obligation to honour the promise of Te Tiriti rests not only in the descendants of the chiefs who signed it, but in the descendants of Queen Victoria, namely King Charles."
"We're seeking his intervention to ensure that the government does not diminish the Crown's honour."
The letter was sent on behalf of the National Iwi Chairs Forum who represent more than 80 whānau, hapū, Iwi and Māori organisations.
Edwards said Māori were unified in their condemnation of the government.
"We've observed through the hīkoi and the unity that has come forth across the year, stemming from the call from Kiingi Tuheitia at the start of the year.
The response from Te Ao Māori has been unified. We seek to have these addressed and that authority, as our Treaty partner, sits with King Charles."
Edwards said there was a "heightening awareness" among New Zealanders that the Treaty was signed with the Crown and the government are representatives of it.
"As a nation we've 180 years of the denial of our Tino Rangatiratanga which has led to the brazen acts that we see unfolding before us."
"We're in 2024 [and] once again our unique place as mana whenua is being questioned and unilaterally redefined without any provision for input from ourselves, or from our treaty partner."
He said the prupose of the letter was to "elevate" the conversation and bring attention to treaty issues in Aotearoa.
"We believe [King Charles'] global environmental and social justice concerns and influence play a crucial role in reminding the government of the importance of upholding the sacred agreements within Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
"This will be of benefit to all in Aotearoa"