New Zealand's government introduces bill to reinterpret founding document

By Renju Jose

New Zealand's centre-right government on Thursday introduced a bill aimed at reinterpreting the country's founding agreement, triggering protests by Indigenous Maori groups who said it would undermine their rights.

The Treaty of Waitangi, first signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs, lays down how the two parties agreed to govern. The interpretation of clauses in this document guide legislation and policy today.

Associate Justice Minister David Seymour said the purpose of the Treaty Principles Bill is for Parliament to define the principles of the treaty, provide certainty and clarity, and promote debates on its place in constitutional arrangements.

"The principles of the Treaty are not going anywhere. Either Parliament can define them, or the courts will continue to meddle in this area of critical political and constitutional importance," Seymour said in a statement.

The legislation is a policy of Seymour's ACT New Zealand party, which garnered 8.6% of the party vote at the 2023 election.

ACT has criticised the sharing of some governance matters between the state and Maori, arguing non-Indigenous citizens are losing out because of policies designed to uplift Maori, who make up about 20% of the country's 5.3 million people.

Coalition partners, the National Party and New Zealand First, has agreed to support the legislation through the first of three readings but have said they will not support it to become legislation. The first reading is scheduled next week.

Protesters marched in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, holding signs reading "Shame" and "Equality", and gathered outside Seymour's office, while a small group converged outside the parliament in the national capital of Wellington.

Maori leaders described the government's move to introduce the bill more than a week earlier than expected and without consulting them as "dishonourable", New Zealand media reported.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was not unusual to move the bill earlier as the government was aiming to submit several pieces of legislation before Christmas.

"It was drafted and the legislation was ready to go. We move legislation around all the time and so it's not unusual at all," Luxon told reporters.