Tāngata Whenua Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty

The Tāngata Whenua Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty (TWC) is a collective of Māori plastic pollution experts including community leaders, educators, scientists, businesspeople, and researchers committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensuring the effective participation and representation of Tāngata Whenua throughout the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) process.

Our mahi involves attending and informing Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) negotiations, submission writing, and holding wānanga as Tāngata Whenua and rights/knowledge holders internally, with Tāngata Tiriti allies and with the NZ government, as well as the Indigenous Peoples’ Working Group, the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, the Plastic Treaty Coalition, and the wider Break Free From Plastic Movement.

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As Tāngata Whenua, we have the right to practice our rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga in relation to the GPT, both from our own tikanga and agreements such as Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While we do not claim to represent all Tāngata Whenua, we are a rōpū of Tāngata Whenua with a wide range of expertise on plastic pollution and zero waste, representing many organisations including the Aotearoa Plastic Pollution Alliance, Para Kore, Para Kore ki Tamaki, EcoMatters, Greenpeace Aotearoa, Reuse Aotearoa, Break Free From Plastic, and several NZ universities.

The TWC does not represent Hapū or Iwi and our mahi does not in any way fulfill the NZ Governments’ statutory responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi to partner with Hapū and Iwi.

We are open to other Māori plastic pollution experts interested in working on the GPT.

Contact: mjperyman@gmail.com

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GPT Development Timeline