The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document, an agreement between the Crown and Maori tribes, sets out the rights and political power of the Maori people.

But now, a massive unravelling is taking place, with a new coalition government pushing to reinterpret the country’s founding document.

Since taking office in October, the National, Act and New Zealand First parties have scrapped a world-leading smoking ban and plan to roll-back use of Maori language. 

Today, political editor for New Zealand publication Stuff, Luke Malpass, on the most far-right government in New Zealand since the 1980s.