New Zealand’s Parliament has overwhelmingly voted down the Treaty Principles Bill, with 112 votes against and only 11 in favor.
The bill, introduced by ACT Party leader David Seymour, aimed to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the nation’s foundational document signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs.
Seymour argued that the bill would provide clarity by legislatively defining the Treaty’s principles. However, it faced significant opposition from Māori leaders, legal experts, and the public. Critics contended that the bill would undermine Māori rights and disrupt the established legal relationship between the Crown and Māori.
The bill’s progression sparked nationwide protests, including one of the largest in New Zealand’s history, with tens of thousands marching to Parliament in November 2024. The Justice Select Committee also received approximately 300,000 public submissions, with an estimated 90% opposing the legislation.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson welcomed the bill’s defeat, stating, “The Treaty Principles Bill is dead. Our movement for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice lives on.” She emphasized that the bill had inadvertently united communities across the country in support of the Treaty.
While ACT’s coalition partners, the National Party and New Zealand First, supported the bill through its first reading as part of coalition agreements, they declined to back it further. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was notably absent during the vote, and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith criticized the bill as ill-suited for such a sensitive issue.
Despite the bill’s rejection, concerns persist among Māori communities regarding the government’s broader policies and their potential impact on indigenous rights.
