Section 7AA came into force on 1 July 2019. It sets out specific duties of the chief executive in order to ‘recognise and provide a practical commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (te Tiriti o Waitangi)’ as stipulated by section 4 of the Act. Its stated objective is to ‘reduc[e] disparities by setting measurable outcomes for Māori children and young persons who come to the attention of the department’.[i]