Our investigation revealed that Debbie Gibbs, a New Zealander, presides over the Atlas Network, headquartered in New York City. Her father, Alan Gibbs, features on the NBR rich list as a multimillionaire, and her mother, Dame Jenny Gibbs, has made large donations to David Seymour’s ACT party. We sought an interview with Ms. Gibbs, but she declined.

David Seymour’s ACT party is poised to advance the Treaty of Waitangi principles bill as early as May this year. This move could dissolve the indigenous rights of the Maori, extending these rights to all New Zealanders as a universal suffrage for all humanity. However, this erasure of history overlooks the fact that not all New Zealanders have endured the harsh impacts of colonisation.

The Taxpayers Union, a part of the Atlas Network, spearheaded the ‘Stop 3 Waters’ campaign, which barred Iwi from participating in decisions about our water. The rights to these decisions are granted to the chiefs and tribes by Article 2 of Te Tiriti O Waitangi.

The Taxpayers Union executed a highly effective campaign, which played a crucial role in the Labour government not being re-elected.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Atlas Network is represented by three organisations: the New Zealand Initiative, Maxxim Institute, and the Taxpayer’s Union.

While the Atlas Network denies any association with the Hobsons Pledge Trust, it is noteworthy that Casey Costello, the leader of the Hobsons Pledge Trust, also chairs the Tax Payers Union.

To oppose the Atlas Network is to stand against hundreds of think tanks and lobbying groups worldwide that possess substantial resources and operate on individual projects as a network. The level of coordination is remarkable, with thousands of analysts directing social media campaigns, creating memes and press releases, and managing a well-coordinated campaign.

With the firepower of the Atlas Network consisting of 500 lobby groups all directed at Aotearoa the Anti-Treaty principles are set to go ahead and well past its 3rd reading once the pressure is put on the National government.