Bill introduced in parliament this week wants to reinterpret Treaty of Waitangi, which upholds Māori rights
Since New Zealand’s right-wing coalition government took office a year ago, its policy direction for Māori has dominated headlines, but one proposal in particular has faced strident backlash: the Treaty Principles Bill.
“If those principles are redefined – and significantly weakened – will be fewer legal mechanisms for Māori to have their rights recognised,” Jones says, adding that that will lead to social disruption.The bill is one of Act’s flagship policies, and seeks to get rid of the well-established principles in favour of its own, redefined principles.
There has been significant public backlash to Act’s proposal, including protests and nationwide meetings of Māori leaders. A hīkoi against the bill is scheduled to descend on parliament on 19 November – a day after the bill was originally set to be introduced. The billA Waitangi Tribunal report, provided to the Guardian, said “if this bill were to be enacted, it would be the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty … in modern times”.
The third coalition partner, the populist New Zealand First party, has also ruled out supporting it beyond these stages.
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