Treaty Principles Bill an act of bad faith.

ACT's proposed referendum excludes the word Māori either through ignorance or duplicity.

ACT wants to hold a referendum to create a new legal definition of “the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi”.

While this may sound like a fair thing, it isn’t.

Here’s how they want to redefine the principles.

• The New Zealand Government has the right to govern all New Zealanders.

• The New Zealand Government will honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and all their property.

• All New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties.

Where do you see the word Māori in this proposed referendum?

The founding document of our country was between two peoples, not one.

There is a significant and complex body of law around the long accepted treaty principles concept.

To want to reduce those principles down to three which exclude any reference to Māori is either born of ignorance or duplicity.

Either way it is a divisive policy we don’t need.

The clearest outline of this issue and its implication I have read to date is by Dr Carwyn Jones in E-Tangata July 21st ,2024 entitled The Treaty Bill an act of extreme bad faith .

I encourage you to read it.

Here is the link which you may have to cut and paste into your browser.

https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/carwyn-jones-the-treaty-bill-is-an-act-of-extreme-bad-faith/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Dr Jones’ background. (Ngāti Kahungunu) is Pūkenga Matua (Lead Academic) of Ahunga Tikanga (Māori Laws and Philosophy) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and Honorary Adjunct Professor, Te Kawa a Māui (School of Māori Studies) at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.

Cartoon by Chris Slane

Bryan Bruce Investigates is a reader-supported publication. To support my public journalism work,and help me continue to speak truth to power, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5 a month. It will give you access to premium posts and documentaries plus the ability to comment and chat about issues raised