PM says he gets the 'immense frustration' about Treaty Principles Bill
Monday, 11 November 2024
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his Government’s Treaty Principles Bill is a “disservice” to the Treaty and he gets the “immense frustration” among Māori.
As a major protest hīkoi begins its march towards Wellington, Luxon said on Monday he was willing to speak to the hīkoi or meet with its leaders when it arrived on Parliament’s foreground next week.
He insisted his Government would not back the Treaty Principles Bill beyond the first reading in Parliament this week, despite fears from some the National Party might change its mind and allow a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi.
The successful first reading vote will send the bill to a six-month public hearing, before it is expected to fail in the House at the second reading.
“We don't support it because we think it is divisive, and you know, we're proud of the Treaty of Waitangi,” Luxon said.
“It’s a very simplistic interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, that has served us, I think, incredibly well, and to simplify it down in that way ‒ for a piece of legislation like this ‒ I think is a disservice to the Treaty.”
The Treaty Principles Bill, which has been advanced by ACT leader David Seymour through his party’s coalition agreement with National, was introduced to the House last week, earlier than anticipated, again prompting outrage.
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 into the modern constitutional setting.
But the ACT Party has been accused of trying to rewrite the Treaty out of existence through the bill’s proposed redefinition of the Treaty principles. However, Seymour has said the bill is a response to New Zealand becoming an “ethno-state”, and ensure all people are provided with equal rights.
Under the Government’s current 1989 Treaty principles, the Government has the right to govern and make laws, and all New Zealanders are equal before the law.
Iwi have the right to organise and control resources, the Government and iwi are obliged to co-operate on major issues of common concern, and the Government is responsible for providing a resolution process for Treaty grievances.
ACT’s bill would change this to three principles: the Government has power to govern in the best interests of everyone, in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society; the Crown will respect and protect the rights of Māori under the Treaty as of 1840, and those rights will only differ from the rights of everyone if agreed in a treaty settlement; and, everyone is equal before the law and is entitled without discrimination to the protection and benefit of the law, and the enjoyment of the same human rights.
The bill has been opposed by NZ First, which is currently seeking to rewrite or delete references to the Treaty principles in laws, as well as Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori.
On Monday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused Luxon of “selling out his values”.
“Frankly, Christopher Luxon should vote against it, because he said before the election that he disagreed with it, that he thought it was divisive, that it didn't align with his values and principles, and then, more or less, straight after the election, signed a coalition agreement that committed to the National Party supporting it.
“Christopher Luxon prides himself on being a great deal maker. It's not a great deal if you're selling out your values and principles.”
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick called for the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill to be a conscience vote, allowing each MP to vote on it as they wish.
“If members of Parliament, all 123 members of Parliament, were free to vote for their conscience, I am confident that many would align with regular New Zealanders and put this rubbish in the bin where it belongs,” she said.