Parliament has voted down the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, marking the end of one of the most divisive political debates in recent years. The bill, introduced by the ACT Party, received only 11 votes in favour – all from ACT MPs – while 112 MPs from across the political spectrum voted against it.
The legislation sought to define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in law, a move its critics said would have undermined Māori rights and reversed decades of progress in Crown-Māori relations. Its rejection has been widely celebrated by Māori leaders, legal experts, and community advocates, though ACT has vowed to continue campaigning for similar reforms.
A Tidal Wave of Opposition
The Treaty Principles Bill faced unprecedented public engagement. More than 300,000 written submissions were made to the Justice Select Committee, with 90% opposing the legislation. Over 16,000 requests were made for oral submissions. The volume marked the largest public response to any proposed legislation in New Zealand’s history.
In November 2024, a hīkoi against the bill brought tens of thousands to Parliament’s steps. The protest, part of a broader movement denouncing the government’s perceived anti-Māori policies, featured powerful symbolism and emotional speeches. The campaign culminated in the delivery of a 290,000-signature petition, the second largest in the country’s history.
Community advocate Kassie Hartendorp described the moment as a “milestone in a longer campaign” and warned of continued threats. “There was a future where this bill hadn’t gone down – this could’ve ended very differently. The reason we’re here now is because people fought back,” she said.
Parliament’s Fiery Second Reading
Thursday’s second reading was marked by emotional and often heated debate. Labour MP Willie Jackson was ejected from the chamber for calling ACT leader David Seymour a “liar,” while Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke delivered an impassioned speech reflecting on the broader institutional disregard for tikanga and Te Tiriti.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the bill “a grubby little bill, born of a grubby little deal,” referring to the coalition agreement that allowed the bill to progress to the select committee stage. Although both National and New Zealand First ultimately opposed the bill, Hipkins said they bore responsibility for igniting a divisive national debate.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not attend the debate, prompting criticism from Opposition MPs. Speaker Gerry Brownlee blocked several attempts to reference Luxon’s absence, citing parliamentary rules. National’s Paul Goldsmith defended the party’s stance, saying the bill had always been unworkable: “Imposing a particular interpretation of the Treaty by simple majority and referendum is a crude way to handle a very sensitive topic.”
ACT’s Response and Future Plans
Despite the resounding defeat, ACT leader David Seymour has remained defiant. “Only ACT had the courage to defend equal rights,” Seymour said following the vote. “Every other party voted against the Bill. But the question isn’t going away.”
Seymour indicated that ACT will continue to campaign on Treaty-related issues and explore new legislative approaches. He described the bill’s rejection as a failure of Parliament to confront an essential question: “Is New Zealand a tribal society where your rights depend on your ancestry, or a liberal democracy where everyone has the same rights?”
He reiterated that ACT will double down on efforts to remove what he called “divisive race-based policies” in sectors such as education, health, and resource management.