ACT’s Principles of
the Treaty of Waitangi Bill was tabled in Parliament on November 7, and the
first reading debate was held on November 14. The Bill was referred to the
Justice Select Committee, where a closing date for submissions of 7 January
2024 has been set – full details can be found HERE.
This is the third time Parliament has dealt with a Bill designed to address the Treaty principles conundrum.
The problem, of course, is that the Treaty of Waitangi doesn’t have any principles. As Sir Apirana Ngata outlined so eloquently in his 1922 explanation of the original Maori version of the Treaty, it only has three articles: they established the Queen as our Sovereign, protected private property rights, and gave Maori the same rights and privileges under British law as every other New Zealander.
This is the third time Parliament has dealt with a Bill designed to address the Treaty principles conundrum.
The problem, of course, is that the Treaty of Waitangi doesn’t have any principles. As Sir Apirana Ngata outlined so eloquently in his 1922 explanation of the original Maori version of the Treaty, it only has three articles: they established the Queen as our Sovereign, protected private property rights, and gave Maori the same rights and privileges under British law as every other New Zealander.
