Fri Nov 15 12:25:44 IST 2024: ## New Zealanders Invited to Shape Treaty Principles Bill
**Wellington, New Zealand** – Associate Justice Minister David Seymour announced today that the Treaty Principles Bill has passed its first reading and will now be subject to a six-month public consultation process.
“This is a historic opportunity for all Kiwis to have their say on the Treaty principles,” stated Mr. Seymour. “The select committee process will finally democratize the debate, which has been largely confined to a select group of individuals for too long.”
The Bill, which seeks to define the Treaty principles for the first time, aims to address concerns over the current ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation. Mr. Seymour highlighted that the lack of definition has led to the courts and Waitangi Tribunal developing interpretations that have resulted in controversial practices like co-governance, ethnic quotas, and consultation based on background.
“The principles of the Treaty are not going away,” asserted Mr. Seymour. “Parliament can define them, or the courts will continue to meddle in this critical area.”
The Bill will not alter the Treaty itself, but rather provide a framework for interpreting legislation where Treaty principles are relevant. Mr. Seymour emphasized the Bill’s potential to promote a national conversation about the Treaty’s role in New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements.
“The Treaty is a powerful guide for our future, establishing the principle of equal rights for all New Zealanders,” he stated. “This Bill is about ensuring true equality before the law and moving forward as one people with one set of rights.”
The public consultation process, overseen by the Justice Committee, will allow all citizens to provide their input on the Bill before it is finalized and debated in Parliament.
First Piper 