Dear John, 

The Treaty Principles Bill had its first reading in Parliament today and – while National’s opposition to it has been clear for a long time – I’d like to explain the wider context for our position.

During coalition negotiations, National and Act agreed that the Government would support the Bill’s first reading to allow it to go through the select committee process, but that National would not support it at its second reading. Therefore, it will not become law.

To be clear, this is a result neither National nor Act are entirely happy with. Act doesn’t get the referendum on the Treaty Principles it wanted, and National is required to vote for a Bill it does not support and has never supported. But National was delivered a mandate to form government at the election and the nature of our MMP system means compromises like this are necessary.

As National’s spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, some people have asked me for more information about our long-standing opposition to this Bill.

Over many decades New Zealand has grappled with how to deal with the Treaty. While we don’t always agree, successive National Governments have worked well with Māori on Treaty issues while ensuring equal citizenship and equal opportunity for all New Zealanders.

The challenges of the Treaty are complex and it is not realistic to suggest that 184 years of debate would be settled once and for all with the stroke of a pen. It’s too blunt and simplistic, and risks stoking grievance and driving division.

National takes the more difficult but more realistic and practical approach – working together through Treaty issues on a case-by-case basis, including:

- The reversal of a number of divisive co-governance policies from the Labour Government that would have contributed to worse economic, social and regulatory outcomes - like Three Waters and the Māori Health Authority


- Instructing Government agencies to deliver public services on the basis of needs – and working with credible Iwi and other providers where specific needs exist among Māori and other communities


- Progressing Treaty Settlements to address historical wrongdoings


- Restoring the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards, after Labour denied local constituents the opportunity to do this.

Nobody is saying any government’s approach to the Treaty is perfect – it is something our entire country has grappled with over almost two centuries of debate.

Ultimately National’s focus and motivation is to improve outcomes for Māori and non-Māori, by rebuilding the economy, restoring law and order, and delivering better public services.

This Bill doesn’t help any of that.

Read my full speech here <[link removed]>.

Paul Goldsmith





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NZ National Party - 41 Pipitea St, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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