PRESS RELEASE - ACT Party Leader needs to be censured

ACT Party leader needs to be censured over attacks on Waitangi Tribunal and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

A national furore has erupted over the coalition Government quietly informing officials on Tuesday evening it will introduce its controversial Treaty Principles Bill on Thursday, nearly two weeks earlier than planned.

“ACT leader David Seymour is hypocritical in introducing the Treaty Principles Bill early,” says Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira CE Helmut Modlik.

Last month, Modlik and Seymour engaged in a highly publicised debate about the Bill, after Modlik challenged the ACT leader to front up in August.

“David constantly attacks the judiciary, especially the Waitangi Tribunal, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi the constitutional foundation of this nation. A separation of powers exists to protect democracy, and David is doing all he can to undermine it. 

“Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith needs to publicly censure David Seymour for his attacks on the judiciary.”

The Bill was supposed to be introduced on 18 November, which was timed after the Waitangi Tribunal was scheduled to deliver the much anticipated second part of its interim report on the Bill.

In a surprise move by the Tribunal it released Chapter 6 of WAI3300 on Tuesday evening to officials, a day earlier than scheduled, which was leaked to the news media. In the release it mentioned the change of dates, which surprised opposition leaders who didn’t know about the Government’s plans.

In the second report, the Tribunal states, “We found that if this Bill were to be enacted, it would be the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty/Te Tiriti in modern times. If the Bill remained on the statute book for a considerable time or was never repealed, it could mean the end of the Treaty/te Tiriti.”

Modlik says all New Zealanders should be concerned about the Bill, “Seymour’s underhanded actions, backed by the Government, to introduce the Bill to the House early before the Waitangi Tribunal’s report was scheduled to be released is shameful.”

All parties except ACT have already agreed not to support the Bill past the select committee but it’s a six-month process which many iwi leaders including Modlik, opposition parties and legal experts say will cause more division in society and waste millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money.

“Christopher Luxon needs to show stronger leadership and kill the Bill now. This charade has gone on long enough.

“The Treaty gives everyone in Aotearoa rights, and this Bill threatens our democracy and constitution foundation,” says Modlik.

Waikato-Tainui is a party to the Waitangi Tribunal WAI3300 urgency claim, and its Te Arataura Chairman Tukoroirangi Morgan is labelling the Government’s latest move to shut out the Waitangi Tribunal’s findings as a direct threat to New Zealand’s constitution.

Morgan says the Tribunal’s decision to release stage two of its urgency findings a day earlier than scheduled means the overwhelming evidence will now be on the table for debate.

“This government’s reckless use of its legislative powers is akin to what we see in dictatorship regimes where human rights are regularly trampled by their political leaders,” says Morgan.

“This is not how modern first world democracies should operate because we know unfettered power promotes corrupt decision-making processes and distrust in our political leadership and direction.”

The judiciary serves an important purpose as one of the three branches of government in Aotearoa, says Morgan. He says the Tribunal’s recommendations are an international embarrassment to the Government.

“The Waitangi Tribunal must be empowered to do its job and not allow governments to dictate how it operates.”

A national activation for all New Zealanders, a nine day hīkoi to Parliament, had also been planned to coincide with the introduction of the Bill later this month, and will still go ahead despite the change.

Ngāti Toa representatives plan to attend Parliament on Thursday when the Bill is introduced. He’s urging all New Zealanders to join them.

“Every New Zealander must stand up to all Governments which undermines the constitutional role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi now, and in the future,” says Modlik. 

“We all need to be good ancestors: our mokopuna deserve better, not deprived of their constitutional rights because of the whims of politicians who come and go.”

For further information contact: communications@ngatitoa.iwi.nz