Tova pod: What you need to know about Treaty Principles Bill developments

Thursday, 12 September 2024

Tova O’Brien is Stuff’s Chief Political Correspondent and host of the political podcast, Tova. Listen to the latest episode ‘Dangerous or democratic: What you need to know about developments with the Treaty Principles Bill’, here.

The ACT Party’s push for a Treaty Principles Bill was a lightning rod throughout last year’s election campaign.

There was talk of civil unrest from the day after the election. And with Māori leaders' distrust of the Government at levels unseen since the Foreshore and Seabed legislation two decades ago, the Coalition faced a fierce examination at the annual commemorations of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Since forming that Government, the Prime Minister has repeatedly faced questions about whether National would support the bill past select committee. As time has passed his answers have become increasingly unequivocal: They would not.

But ACT and its leader David Seymour are unmoved.

Although the bill is still to be drafted, Cabinet has agreed to proposed principles which will be the starting point - protecting the Crown’s rights to govern, property rights and equality under the law.

The wording of ACT’s proposed principles has changed since announcing the original policy.

Cabinet has approved provisions for a referendum, despite the PM categorically ruling one out; the select committee “debate” has been set down for six months; and official advice has criticised Seymour’s plans for being inconsistent with the Treaty, reducing indigenous rights and posing a threat to social cohesion.

To discuss all that and more, on the Tova podcast this week, ACT Leader David Seymour and Te Pāti Māori’s Treaty Spokesperson Tākuta Ferris.

We also look back at some of the powerful voices we’ve had on the podcast discussing the issue, from former Prime Ministers Helen Clark, Jim Bolger and Sir Geoffrey Palmer to Māori leaders like Pita Tipene.