The Treaty Principles Bill and national hīkoi w/ The National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 12th November, 2024

The Treaty Principles Bill is being tabled this week as part of the National Party’s coalition agreement with the ACT Party. The bill was one of ACT’s main campaign promises, attempting to clarify the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi under the law. 

The bill’s changes have been criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, which found that the consultation process deliberately excluded Māori, the proposed content does not reflect Te Tiriti, and that if passed would cause significant prejudice to Māori. 

In response to the bill, a national hīkoi has been organised. Today the hīkoi is stopping in Kaiwaka, and it will make its way to parliament on Tuesday next week. In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about the bill and the hīkoi.