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Treaty Principles Bill axed

Politics

Aleksandra Bogdanova
ACT-David-Seymour-Speaking-Second-Reading
Davis Seymour speaks to the Treaty Principles Bill  Parliament Video

Parliament voted down ACT's proposed Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill yesterday afternoon.

After two parliamentary readings, more than 300,000 public submissions, and a haka gone viral, the controversial Treaty Principles Bill failed by 11 votes to 112.  

The bill looked to reinterpret and more accurately define New Zealand’s 1840’s Treaty of Waitangi into common law aiming to achieve “equal rights” for all Kiwis, according to ACT’s website, treaty.nz. 

Many argued that the redefinition of the Treaty under the Bill would disrupt and undermine tikanga, or traditional rights of Māori. 

Aotearoa garnered international notoriety after Te Pāti Māori’s youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, protested during the Bill’s first reading by performing the Ka Mate haka.  

maori_party / Instagram

Yesterday, she made a comeback to cement her party’s position on the Bill. 

“The real problem is that this institution, this house, has only every recognised one partner, one culture, one language from one treaty. When will the rules of this house acknowledge the rules of this land?” -Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke

She called the money spent on the readings a waste, and she was not alone in the sentiment.   

Her position on the Bill was supported by Labour and the Greens, as well as an overwhelming majority of the public through written and oral submissions. 

Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson said there had not been another Bill with a record-breaking number of submissions to select committee that was met with 'such overwhelming power of opposition'. 

Of the 300,000 submissions received by Parliament, 90% opposed the Bill.   

However, ACT leader and proponent of the Bill, David Seymour, doubled down.  

He stressed the importance of adapting the document to modern times for the benefit of all Kiwis. When referring to the opposition, he said they did not hold Aotearoa to the same level of respect as him. 

“They do not trust the New Zealand people to determine their constitutional future, and I'm proud to stand of the one party in this house that actually does.” -David Seymour

In response to the public’s submissions, Seymour justified the Principles Bill through comparison with the End-of-Life Choice Act and Abortion Act, as an example of proposals that made positive impacts to legislation despite not being popular with the public at the time. 

Tensions were high during the reading, with Labour’s Willie Jackson being told to leave the house after calling Seymour a liar and refusing to withdraw and apologise. 

Willie-Jackson-Second-Parliament-Reading
Labour's Willie Jackson calling David Seymour a 'liar' Supplied / Parliament Video

“If I was to withdraw and apologise it will be an insult to 270 select committee submitters who also think Mr Seymour is a liar.” 

ACT was the only party to vote in favour of the Bill.  

The decision was met with thunderous applause and a collective performance of Tutira Mai Nga Iwi as members of the ACT party packed and left parliament.  

ACT has affirmed it stands with the message the Bill sent and will continue to fight for its recognition. 

actnewzealand / Instagram