Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the assertion Māori did not cede sovereignty has been well acknowledged in the treaty settlement process.
He says aside from the hysteria being whipped up by ACT leader David Seymour over treaty principles, it’s widely accepted sovereignty rests with the crown, and there is one government and one parliament.
He says recognising Maori did not cede sovereignty does not change that.
“We also have to acknowledge that sovereignty, while not ceded, was taken by the crown. Part of the treaty settlements process has been addressing, it’s been recognising that by force in many cases the crown asserted sovereignty and took sovereignty,” Mr Hipkins says.
