Treaty Principles Bill w/ ActionStation Director, Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa): 12th September, 2024

This week, Cabinet reviewed the first draft of the ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill. 

The Bill has been met with controversy, with officials warning the government that it “calls into question the very purpose of the Treaty and its status in our constitutional arrangements” and that it could be detrimental to Māori and social cohesion. 

Criticism has also come from Māori leaders saying it could remove Māori from decision making processes entirely, as well as most recently a group of 440 Christian Church leaders signing an open letter asking MPs to say no to the Bill. 

Both National and New Zealand First have said they will not support the Bill beyond the select committee process. 

In response to the Bill, ActionStation Aotearoa has launched a campaign, Together for Te Tiriti, which “welcomes people of all backgrounds who believe that our country is better off when we honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.” 

Sofia spoke to ActionStation Aotearoa Director, Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) about this Bill, current discourse around it, and ActionStation’s campaign.