Marcus Roberts: Yes/No: The Right Way to Go?

If the first victim of war is truth, the first victims of coalition negotiations are controversial policies. Act’s policy to hold a referendum on the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi was undoubtedly one of the most contentious of the election.

Act had promised to pass legislation defining the principles based on the Māori version of Te Tiriti and then to hold a binding referendum on whether that legislation should take effect. This same process got the End of Life Choice Act 2019 voted in during 2020.