■ Independent historian Tanja Rother reflects on the oath New Zealand citizens have to abide by, and whether it’s time for a change to include Tiriti o Waitangi in its citizenship ceremonies.

Two friends of mine recently became New Zealand citizens at a Ōpōtiki District Council citizenship ceremony. Both were glad to finally be awarded this status, having lived here for many years.

However, they also left the ceremony somewhat puzzled.

Why? It was all about New Zealand with no Aotearoa in it.

Well, to be fair, they were given the choice to make the oath or affirmation statement in English or te reo Māori.

Yet, the oath, obviously equal for every prospective citizen throughout the country, whether in English or te reo Māori, makes no mention of the tangata whenua of this land or of Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document.

While the religious affirmation at the end is optional, the oath’s wording in English goes like this:

“I [name of citizen to be] swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of New Zealand, his heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen. (So help me God.)”

Yes, of course, New Zealand is still part of the Commonwealth and the British monarch is the head of state.

The debate whether New Zealand should or should not become a republic is complex and flares up every now and then; it is not the subject of this think piece.

However, associate Professor Grant Duncan of Massey University says, “because the British monarch does practically nothing in terms of government, New Zealand is already effectively operating as a republic anyway” (https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/opinion-how-to-become-a-republic/).

While we leave this question of a republic for another day, it is worth thinking about the oath.

Is there merit to change it, or to extend it so it does justice to the uniqueness of Aotearoa New Zealand and the relationship of tangata whenua (the people of the land) and tangata tiriti (anybody else who chooses to live here)?

The Citizenship Act that regulates who can and who cannot become a New Zealand citizen dates back to 1977, a time when Tiriti o Waitangi was just resurrected out of oblivion by Māori political activists and brought into broader public consciousness.

The act is void of any acknowledgement of the status of Māori as tangata whenua or the Treaty of Waitangi.

Last October, the Waitangi Tribunal (a permanent commission of inquiry) recommended that this status quo be changed.

The tribunal found that the Citizenship Act 1977 is effectively breaching Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and fails to recognise Māori as tangata whenua.

A reform of the act would not only benefit Māori born overseas seeking citizenship.

Acknowledging this country’s founding document would encourage new citizens to learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and their relationships with tangata whenua, and thus enhance their sense of belonging.

It would also make it clear that honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the responsibility of all citizens of Aotearoa.

The oath of allegiance, taken by all new citizens, is an important statement on what it means to be a citizen of Aotearoa.

I have been living and working in this country for the best part of the last 20 years.

And I’m counting my days to qualify for citizenship, too.

I hope by the time I get to be awarded citizenship the oath will speak to Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole.

■ Tanja Rother is an independent historian and writer based at Ōhiwa Harbour.