Greens Warn Treaty Principles Bill Is Back
After the public backlash against the Treaty Principles Bill, many assumed the Government would retreat. Instead, critics say it has simply changed tactics β quietly weakening te Tiriti obligations across multiple laws without the political spectacle of a standalone bill. The Greens are calling it the βStealth Treaty Principles Billβ, and the accusation will resonate with many who believed the Government had already heard the publicβs message.
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s decision to weaken te Tiriti o Waitangi references across 19 acts of Parliament, calling it the Stealth Treaty Principles Bill.
“New Zealanders didn’t want the Treaty Principles Bill, and they sure don’t want it by stealth,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
“Stripping te Tiriti out of seven acts entirely and dragging the Crown’s obligations in another ten down to the weakest possible standard, is a deliberate diminishment of the founding document of this country.
Critics say the Government is weakening te Tiriti by stealth
“Treaty references in legislation are how the Crown’s word gets translated into the decisions that shape whΔnau lives. The changes set the lowest standard the Crown can give itself. Weakening them weakens the protections people rely on every day.
“The Waitangi Tribunal has warned this Government, repeatedly, about its approach to te Tiriti. Those warnings are being ignored, along with the evidence, the history, and the weight of the agreement that founded this country.
The Treaty Principles debate never really ended
“New Zealanders have already had their say on the Treaty Principles Bill. They submitted in record numbers, they marched in numbers this country has not seen in a generation. The Government should abandon this new Treaty Principles Bill,” says Davidson.
Thank you Greens for not giving up on this fight for justice and fairness. Every issue this corrupt, bullying CoC meddles with is either Racist, Anti-environment, Anti the needy etc. They are so driven by spite. 19 pieces of legislation are being ripped apart for spurious reasons but all Racist! Maori were here way before the Settlers who have done nothing but plunder from our Maori people. If you can’t live in harmony with Maori go and live in another country – you won’t be missed. You are the problem, not the legislation! The RW incessant greed is becoming more horrible by the day.