John --

The Prime Minister has failed to show leadership and kill the Treaty Principles Bill.

It’s time to stand up for Te Tiriti. Submissions will open soon and you can tell the Government why they are wrong to divide us.

The Bill has no support from any other party in Parliament. Even so, Christopher Luxon is allowing it to be debated for six months, after which time it will be voted down by most of Parliament, including his own party.

If that sounds like a waste of time and money, that’s because it is. The bill is also divisive and harmful.

Former National MP and Treaty Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson calls it “pernicious nonsense”. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it is “dangerous”. Luxon himself says “there is nothing in the Treaty Principles Bill I like”.

We called on Christopher Luxon to show leadership, stand by his convictions and kill the Bill. Thanks to you, our open letter gathered more than 15,000 signatures. He could and should have listened. But on this and so much more, he is failing.

We need leadership, not a Prime Minister so weak he is willing to risk our nation’s progress just to keep the ACT Party happy. Not a leader who allows an abomination like the Treaty Principles Bill to Parliament, even though he doesn’t support it. Not a leader who changed the Bill’s launch day so he wouldn’t be around to face the music.

Christopher Luxon letting the Treaty Principles Bill through will cost taxpayers millions, divide our country, and ultimately take New Zealand backwards.

You can tell the government that when Māori thrive, Aotearoa thrives. Stand against this attempt to paddle the waka backwards.

Ngā mihi

Willow-Jean Prime & Willie Jackson

Spokesperson for Children, Youth, Associate Education (Māori) & Spokesperson for Māori Development