Labour Māori MP criticizes Treaty Principles Bill

Atereano Mateariki Willow-Jean Prime | Labour Māori MP criticizes Treaty Principles Bill

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Senior Labour Māori MP Willow-Jean Prime says tabling the Treaty Principles Bill today will be the most significant modern breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Associate Justice Minister David Seymour has released the bill (read here) and confirmed the first reading will be held on 14 November.

The bill outlines the principles of Article Two by saying the Crown acknowledges and will protect the rights of Māori hapū and iwi as they were when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi.

However, if those rights differ from non-Māori rights, they only apply if confirmed through a settlement under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.

Willow-Jean Prime says the damage has already been done to the Māori/Crown relationship, with the government defining the Treaty Principles without consulting Māori on the bill.

“Māori have expressed so much opposition on first becoming aware of this, and yet they can continue to proceed on the basis that they’re honouring their own coalition agreement. So to say, the coalition agreement has more mana than Te Tiriti o Waitangi? The damage is already being done,” says Prime.

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