New Zealand’s parliament narrowly voted down the damaging Treaty Principles Bill on March 19. This piece of legislation was introduced to parliament by David Seymour, the leader of New Zealand’s ACT Party. The bill aims to re-interpret the Treaty of Waitangi. This inimitable document was signed by more than 500 Māori chiefs and Crown representatives at the time in 1840. The government’s plan was to bring the Treaty’s new definition to a national referendum. It failed even before its final passage in a well-publicized, high-profile vote that demonstrated both legislative and public outrage.
The bill only required a simple majority to pass it out on second reading. Unfortunately though, it was met with overwhelming disapproval, going down with 112 votes against it to only 11 in favor. The ACT Party was the only party to support the amendment, with all other parties voting against the proposal. That crushing defeat came after a vigorous campaign and dramatic public outcry. Nearly 300,000 submissions were sent in to the select committee, rejecting the bill in its current form.
Context of the Treaty Principles Bill
The Treaty of Waitangi is an incredibly important document in New Zealand’s history. It acts as a starting point for ongoing negotiations between Māori and the Crown. David Seymour’s proposal aimed to alter the understanding and interpretation of this treaty, generating concern among various communities regarding potential implications for Māori rights and sovereignty.
Introduced in November 2023, the bill was met with swift condemnation and inspired protests across the country. In perhaps the most famous example, 40,000 citizens flooded the streets and laid siege to parliament, demanding the government reverse course. In the first reading of the bill, Māori Party representative Hana Rawhiti Maipe Clarke performed an impressive haka to protest it. This haka encapsulated the intense cultural and spiritual importance of the Treaty and conveyed the collective resolve to protect it from growing attacks to its integrity.
“This bill has been absolutely annihilated,” – Hana Rawhiti Maipe Clarke
As expected, the proposed changes led to a major public outcry. This response highlights the deeply significant context of historical treaties and indigenous sovereignty in New Zealand. Most saw the ACT Party’s moves as a direct assault on Māori rights, stoking the cultural war flames even more on a deeply divided societal battlefield.
Political Reactions and Implications
The result of the passage of the vote evoked responses from elected leaders, ranging from Republicans to Democrats. Additional Reading Ingoing racial discrimination under the guise of benevolence Former prime minister Chris Hipkins condemned the ACT Party’s campaign, arguing that they reproduced toxic narratives around Māori privilege. He explained how this type of rhetoric has forced families into two different camps.
Willie Jackson, the Minister for Māori Development, had red flags about the framing of the bill. The program, he thinks, fits right in with a deeply racist agenda. He underscored the importance of Māori rights, which he said derive from legal obligations established between Māori and the Crown.
“What is most offensive is the way that the ACT Party and the political right have twisted the narrative to fit a racist agenda. It is and always has been about legal rights Māori have in their contract with the Crown,” – Willie Jackson
It was a blow for Seymour, but he wasn’t finished fighting. He applied pressure by insisting that conversations about achieving equal rights for all Kiwis have to go on. And above all, he underscored his desire to find a way forward on this divisive concern.
“The basic commitment that ACT has to equal rights to all Kiwis before the law because that is a universal truth,” – David Seymour
Seymour indicated that he would keep exploring ways to engage more people in dialogue about the Treaty and its implications for New Zealand society.
Looking Forward
Our fight is not over Māori leaders promised to continue the fight for justice in regards to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Despite the bill’s defeat, they are undeterred. Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party, had noted this during their campaign, citing the sustainability of their movement in the face of electoral or legislative losses.
“The Treaty Principles Bill is dead. Our movement for Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) justice lives on,” – Marama Davidson
Davidson further highlighted how opposition to the bill has united communities across New Zealand in solidarity for their founding agreement.
“Instead of dividing and conquering, this bill has backfired and united communities across the motu (country) in solidarity for our founding agreement and what it represents,” – Marama Davidson
The Treaty Principles Bill’s defeat highlights the need for continued dialogue and advocacy with government on indigenous rights. This is an exciting moment for New Zealand’s political landscape as it moves to more equitably and representatively address its diversity.
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