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New Zealand votes down Treaty Principles Bill
New Zealand’s Parliament has voted down the Treaty Principles Bill, which aimed to redefine the rights held by Māori under the country’s founding document. Introduced by the right-wing party ACT, the bill would have abolished measures to support Māori civil rights that were not granted through a legal settlement of a treaty claim. It was strongly criticised by the New Zealand government’s Waitangi Tribunal commission, which said the bill deliberately did not consult Māori authorities and did not reflect the treaty’s meaning. While ACT proposed the bill, all members from its coalition partners National and New Zealand First voted against it. “I am proud that my party has had the bravery, the clarity and the patriotism to raise uneasy topics, and I challenge other parties to find those qualities in themselves and support this bill,” ACT leader David Seymour said before the vote. “No member of this House simply gets to wipe all of those 185 years of history away to suit their own purposes because Te Tiriti o Waitangi [The Treaty of Waitangi] is not just history, it's not just ink on a paper. It's a living promise,” said leader of the opposition Labour party Chris Hipkins. “This bill will forever be a stain on our country.”
NZ
NZ's Speaker of the House tells MP to stop complaining
New Zealand’s deputy prime minister has strongly objected to the use of the Māori name for the country in parliament, but the Speaker of the house has hit back telling the country’s lawmakers to stop complaining. This ruling follows Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign affairs minister and leader of the populist New Zealand First party Winston Peters (who has half Māori heritage) questioning Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March for using “Aotearoa” during house proceedings. On Tuesday, Speaker Gerry Brownlee said that while “New Zealand” is the official name, the Māori name is used widely, therefore lawmakers were free to speak in English, Māori or New Zealand Sign Language. Brownlee said that was “the end of the matter”. “If other members do not like certain words, they don’t have to use them. But it’s not a matter of order and I don’t expect to have further points of order raised about it.” The comment came after Peters asked Brownlee to bar the use of the name Aotearoa, and suggested a referendum would be needed for anyone to use it in parliament. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported Peters saying on Tuesday that he disagreed with Brownlee's ruling, adding that his problem was with Aotearoa being used in Parliament, not of Māor
NZ
NZ marks Waitangi Day amid Treaty Principles bill debate
New Zealand is observing Waitangi Day today, with political leaders commemorating the country’s foundational document amid debate over a bill that could significantly undermine it. Waitangi Day marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, which gave the Crown political sovereignty over New Zealand while affirming the rights of Māori iwi to their lands. It was first made a national public holiday in 1973. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon spoke alongside governor-general Cindy Kiro at Ōnuku Marae, on the South Island’s Banks Peninsula, for the occasion. “It is here Ngāi Tahu chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi 185 years ago, laying the foundation for what was hoped would be a lasting partnership. And here, in this very place, my predecessor as prime minister, Dame Jenny Shipley, delivered the Crown apology to Ngāi Tahu,” he said. “Reconciliation has paved the way for the iwi's success, prosperity and cultural revitalisation,” said Luxon. Leaders of other political parties marked the day at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in Northland. Luxon also said the proposed Treaty Principles Bill would not become law. Introduced by Luxon’s National Party’s coalition partner ACT last year, the bill seeks to abolish mea
NZ
New Zealand grants Candace Owens visa to enter country
A New Zealand immigration official has reversed a ban on conservative political commentator, Candace Owens from entering the country. Owens was initially refused an entertainer work permit to New Zealand in November because visas cannot be granted to anyone who has been excluded from another country. Australian immigration minister, Tony Burke, barred Owens from the country in October noting that she had been promoting conspiracy theories, and antisemitism and has ignited controversy with her comments opposing Black Lives Matter, feminism and immigration to her audience of three million on YouTube. According to a statement made by New Zealand associate immigration minister Chris Penk’s office, Owens had appealed the decision. Penk granted her a visa "after considering representations made to him, including the importance of free speech”. While Owens is allowed entry into New Zealand, she is still barred from Australia, despite being scheduled to speak at an event in several Australian cities in February and March. Sydney-based promoter of the tour, Rocksman, welcomed the decision to allow Owens into New Zealand. Owens took to X to thank Penk for letting her into New Zealand and said she would continue to fight
NZ
Bill aims to reinterpret New Zealand’s founding document
An upcoming bill in New Zealand seeks to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 by the British Crown and Māori chiefs. The ACT, a minor libertarian party, introduced the bill to redefine treaty principles that protect Māori rights and address historical grievances. Māori communities may have mixed reactions to the proposed bill. Some may view it as an opportunity to clarify and strengthen their rights, while others may perceive it as a threat to the protections they currently enjoy under the treaty. The debate is likely to spark discussions about the balance between honouring historical agreements and adapting to contemporary societal needs.Key Points of the Bill Redefinition of Principles: The bill proposes to replace the well-established Treaty of Waitangi principles with revised, redefined principles. The current principles are seen by the ACT party as distorting the original intent of the treaty and creating a dual system of rights.Impact on Māori Rights: Critics argue that redefining these principles could weaken the legal mechanisms that recognise Māori rights, leading to social disruption and undermining Māori political and legal rights.Government's Stance: The government claims the bill aims to provide clar