Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the Treaty Principles Bill is a “disservice” to the treaty and says he understands the frustration among Maori.
This comes after ACT leader David Seymour introduced the bill to the house last week, earlier than expected, prompting outrage and could have serious ramifications between the crown and Maori.
The bill aims to hold a referendum on changing how the Treaty is applied across Government and law through a rewrite of the “Treaty principles”, which have developed over decades to translate the 1840 treaty between the Crown and Māori.
However, all parties other than ACT are opposed to the bill and are committed to voting the bill down at the second reading after it has been to the select committee, which would stop it from passing.
Luxon has said that he is proud of the treaty and is opposed to the bill.
“We don’t support it because we think it is divisive, and you know, we’re proud of the Treaty of Waitangi”
“It’s a very simplistic interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, that has served us, I think, incredibly well, and to simplify it in that way, for a piece of legislation like this, I think is a disservice to the Treaty.” he added.
There is currently a major hikoi protesting this bill travelling from the far north to Wellington following in the footsteps of Dame Whina Cooper in 1975.
Currently the march is on track to reach Northcote in Auckland on Tuesday evening and reach Wellington on the 19th.
Photo Credit: RNZ
