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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.
Paul Goldsmith
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