𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝 𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕣

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝 𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕣: 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕤.

I

t’s the in-between year. MPs had 2024 to settle into their new roles, while in 2025, some drama and great change are expected in the political arena.

Here is what to look out for in the year ahead.

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January 7: Written submissions close for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill.

This bill sparked the biggest protest Parliament has seen in decades, if not ever, in 2024 - with the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti. Since then, there have been major campaigns from groups both supporting and opposing the Treaty Principles Bill, holding “submissions workshops” and encouraging the public to write in to Parliament’s Justice Select Committee. It will be interesting to see how successful those campaigns have been, from the likes of Toitū Te Tiriti and Te Pāti Māori as well as the ACT Party and Hobson’s Pledge.

Arguably the biggest election lie from the national party.file :𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓𝖓𝖞 ᴴᴰ

January 24: Politicians from across Parliament will head to Rātana Pā, as they do every year, on the eve of the birthday of the faith’s founder, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana. He started the Rātana Church in the early 20th century.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed he will be attending the annual Rātana celebrations in 2025. The only party that does not join in this annual pilgrimage is the ACT Party. The Rātana celebrations are seen as the start of the political year.

PM Luxon see's nothing wrong in his hypocrisy. Out of touch. file: 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓𝖓𝖞 ᴴᴰ

January 27: Parliament resumes in the last few days of January.

Following the deadline for written submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill, in-person and video-link submissions about the bill will start January 27. The Justice Committee was expecting to hear submissions for weeks.

February 3: The Iwi Chairs Forum, which brings together the elected leaders of all of the country’s iwi, will convene in the Far North ahead of Waitangi Day. This annual meeting usually sees the most powerful figures from te ao Māori and the Government come together, but in 2025 it could be different - given tensions between the Crown and Māori.

February 6: While Luxon has turned down the opportunity to join the national Waitangi Day events at Waitangi, the Treaty Grounds will still host influential figures from te ao Māori, the public service, international relations and other areas. Given the ongoing debate about the role of Te Tiriti in modern Aotearoa, expect some colourful debate again in 2025.

March:

Minister for Rail Winston Peters is set to take an alternative plan to Cabinet about how to replace the Interislander ferries. Finance Minister Nicola Willis canned the old plan after a cost blow-out.

May 31: This is a huge day in the political calendar. On May 31, there will be a transfer of power in the Beehive. The role of deputy prime minister will go from NZ First leader Winston Peters to ACT leader David Seymour. They agreed to split the role, taking half a term each, during coalition negotiations with Christopher Luxon in 2023.

May/June: Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver her second Budget around May or June. Following the release of the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) in December,Willis said Budget 2025 would require further cuts to Government spending and indicated more public servants may lose their jobs.

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September 4: The new Māori Queen, Ngā Wai hono i te pō, will celebrate her first Koroneihana. The Koroneihana is a week-long celebration held at Tūrangawaewae Marae. It will be a year since the death of her father, Kiingi Tūheitia, and her subsequent accession to be the Māori monarch.

She has attended key events since becoming Te Arikinui, such as the Hui-aa-Motu in Christchurch and Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti in Wellington. The Koroneihana will be the opportunity for her to make her first big speech as Queen.

September 23: The United Nations will host the 80th General Debate of the General Assembly. The General Assembly brings together all of the world’s leaders, who are given a speaking slot as part of the General Debate.

Luxon did not attend the 2024 General Debate, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters speaking instead. Luxon later told Stuff he did plan to attend the UNGA, so the 80th assembly could be a chance for the Prime Minister to make his UN debut in New York.

December 18: The final day of lawmaking for 2025.

Sometime in 2025:

In October, Luxon said he would travel to India in 2025 to meet with India’s prime minister Narendra Modi. This will be a significant meeting given Luxon’s promise, and focus, on securing a free trade deal with India.

Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds will confirm how she plans to de-merge the country’s polytechs and training institutes, which form Te Pūkenga

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