National remains “very resolute” about only supporting the Treaty Principles Bill to first reading in Parliament, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says, adding that “there will be no referendum”.
Supporting the legislation to first reading was part of National’s coalition deal with ACT, which allowed Christopher Luxon to form his government and become prime minister.
Earlier this year, Luxon fully ruled out voting for the controversial bill any further than first reading, however, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has previously suggested that National could be persuaded to change its mind.
Without National’s support, the bill could only go as far as the select committee process.
Speaking on the Marae programme this morning, Potaka re-affirmed National’s opposition to the legislation moving past a first reading.
“There will be no referendum and we’re very resolute about that,” he said.
David Seymour is still hopeful PM Christopher Luxon and the National Party will eventually come to support his bill.
“National and the ACT Party have agreed that that bill will be taken to a first reading and into select committee. The Prime Minister has asserted, and I support the Prime Minister, that that’s where it will end.”
In response to another question, Potaka said: “What I observe is that neither the Crown nor the Government can re-write the Treaty – te Tiriti o Waitangi. It stands for what it is. It has that international dimension when it was drafted at the time.
“When you get into discussions around the Treaty Principles Bill, the Waitangi Tribunal, and a number of other things, there’s a lot of korero, there’s a lot of concern that’s been communicated to me.
“But we as a coalition, a Cabinet and Government are approaching these matters one step at a time and in the envelope, in which we have our agreements with the different parties – National with ACT, and then National with New Zealand First.”
Luxon’s language on opposing the Treaty Principles Bill hardened in February, amid his appearance at significant events for Māoridom, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
It comes as ACT’s bill on the matter sparks furious debate, deputy political editor Maiki Sherman reports.
In response, Seymour told 1News at the time: “The Prime Minister’s just a little spooked right now. He’s clearly nervous about it and I think Waitangi has made him more nervous, but I would just say that ultimately politicians in a democracy will follow the public will.”
He added to Newshub’s AM: “The bit I don’t believe is he won’t change his mind if the public really wants it.”
Luxon and Potaka have previously described a referendum on Treaty principles as “divisive” and “unhelpful”.
Re-defining Treaty principles was part of the ACT Party’s election pledges last year and has proven to be a highly contentious element of the coalition government’s plans.
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air.
