John,

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today.

Now, instead of furthering the partnership between Māori and the Crown, Christopher Luxon is allowing David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill to be debated.

Let’s be clear: this bill is divisive, a waste of money, and has no support from any other party in Parliament.

Since 1975, a set of principles based on the English and Māori versions of the Treaty have been set into law. Over time, the principles have evolved and strengthened, and they will continue to do so through mature, informed, and respectful discussion.

But David Seymour’s Bill ignores this. It seeks to have the Treaty Principles replaced with his own principles – ones that are based on outdated and incorrect perspectives that do not reflect the spirit or words of the Treaty.

The Treaty Principles Bill is not supported by any other political party. Most people do not want this unnecessary and divisive debate, yet Christopher Luxon is letting it happen.

We need leadership. Not a leader so weak that he is willing to risk how far we have come, just to keep David Seymour happy.

The Treaty Principles Bill will cost us millions, divide our country, and ultimately take New Zealand backwards.

When Māori thrive, Aotearoa thrives. The Treaty Principles Bill is an attempt to paddle the waka backwards, and we cannot let that happen.

Christopher Luxon must end this debate now and Kill the Treaty Principles Bill.  

Thanks,

Chris Hipkins