ACT leader David Seymour is open to meeting organizers of a hīkoi heading to Wellington in support of the Treaty of Waitangi.

His The draft law on the principles of treaties it will have its first reading this week before being sent to a select committee for a six-month trial.

The Hīkoi gathered for a pōwhiri on Sunday evening at Te Kao before setting off on Monday morning from Te Rerenga Wairua, Cape Reinga – with a karakia kicking off at the Bluff.

It arrives in Parliament next Tuesday, the date that was expected for the submission of the bill to Parliament. That filing that sees details of the proposed legislation made public, instead, took place last week.

Seymour told RNZ he supported the right to protest but hoped any opposition to his bill would focus on specific objections to its content.

“It’s important to recognize that these are people who oppose a range of government policies in relation to the Crown-Māori relationship, but apparently a range of other policies as well, including even foreign policy,” he said.

“It’s fine, there is a legitimate right to protest. So (in terms of the Treaty Principles Act, I hope the focus will be on exactly what people object to in having a treaty interpretation that is true to the original Maori text). , that the government has the right to rule, and we all have equal rights under that government.”

Academics, lawyers, historians, judges, the Waitangi Tribunal and the Ministry of Justice criticized the bill as not reflecting the Treaty.

However, Seymour said he would consider meeting hīkoi organizers when he arrived in Wellington.

“Well, let’s see what the circumstances are. I mean, it’s a long way, it takes a while to get there with the hīkoi, but when that happens we’ll see.

“I would certainly seek an opportunity to discuss and communicate, which is what I sought to do with the Treaty Principles Bill – as long as the issue is ‘what do we really think about the proposal in the Bill’.”

Hikoi was organized by a popular movement “Toitū te Tiriti” which was established in December 2023.

The three opposition parties – Labor, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori – joined forces to oppose the bill. Labor leader Chris Hipkins provided a written statement saying the party supported the hīkoi.

The Treaty Principles Bill, he said, “tries to undo decades of progress we’ve made as a country.”

“The bill is divisive, a waste of taxpayers’ time and money, and the Prime Minister should show leadership and kill it before it goes any further.”

Hīkoi against the proposed bill is going ahead as planned despite the earlier introduction of the bill in Parliament.
Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins

Greens MP Teanau Tuiono told RNZ the party was focused, for now, on getting out there and supporting communities.

“I think the thing that people need to realize is that, you know, governments come and go, but Tiriti – this is permanent, this is here. It’s all about who we are and this Treaty Principles Bill will disrupt the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand. , it’s divisive and that’s why I called the Prime Minister, saying “hey, you’ve got to throw this in the bin”.

He said further cooperative actions between the parties would be revealed once the details of how and when the bill would progress through the parliamentary process were known.

“I think what we’ve seen from this government, it’s anti-labour, it’s anti-Māori, we’ve seen such regressive and divisive behavior from this government – that’s why it’s so important that people come out and support this. hikoi.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbbie Ngarewa-Packer said there were several hundred people and a lot of excitement at Pōtahi marae after the pōwhiri on Sunday night.

“I think historically the hīkoi are hugely important to us as a nation and actually tonight, the hundreds that were there, they’re Māori, there’s tangata whenua, tangata Tiriti.

“It is a beautiful show of unity to show disappointment and continually defend not only our rights to be tangata whenua, but to be recognized as tangata whenua in Te Tiriti. And so that’s what it’s all about and let’s leave ACT as part. of the coalition government we know exactly how we feel about this.

“It’s expected to be tens of thousands and there’s a wānanga every night – there’s one that started at 7 tonight and it’s about keeping everyone in tow and keeping unity and aroha.

“Very well organised, and some fine young leaders who have been through it wearing pou. Obviously, there was Hone Harawira and all the OGs, as they call him, there, but there’s a whole new generation – I think that’s what’s interesting, is that this is a new generation with some of the old generation and who do what we do in Aotearoa, just stand in unity when something so bad is proposed by the government.

“I think David (Seymour) … wasted a lot of time and, unfortunately, a lot of taxpayer money when we could have and should have been focusing on, you know, what we could be doing better as a nation, to address disparities and to address opportunities.”

ACT leader David Seymour speaks at the Waitangi Day commemoration in February.
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Seymour said opposition parties needed to think about “the position of New Zealanders, which is that equal rights and a treaty that unites rather than divides is actually a very positive thing”.

“Its their policies over the last five years that have tried to divide people into tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti – in everything from managing the Three Waters to the provision of healthcare and the running of government departments – that has created a great divide.

“The government was elected on the basis that the previous government’s approach to the Crown-Māori relationship had become divisive in almost every area of ​​government policy.

“I don’t think it’s wise, especially for a party like Labor that says it wants to be mainstream, to develop here.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also provided a written statement, saying every New Zealander “has the right to peaceful protest” and urging everyone participating in hīkoi over the next few days to be safe.

“I am aware of the deep feelings of many Maori about the Treaty Principles Bill and I want to assure New Zealanders that National will vote against the Bill at second reading,” Luxon said.

Disruption likely on some roads – police

Police have warned that some disruption to roads and motorways is likely as the hīkoi passes through.

Superintendent Kelly Ryan said police will keep Waka Kotahi and local councils updated on the roads so drivers in each area can find updates. She advised travelers to “plan accordingly.”

Police have also been in contact with the hīkoi organisers, she said: “Our discussions with the organizers to date have been positive and we expect the hīkoi to take place in a peaceful and lawful manner.

“We have planned for large numbers to join the hīkoi, with possible disruption on some roads, including motorways and main streets along the route.”

Waka Kotahi said he would also monitor the hīkoi’s impact on highways and provide real-time updates on any delays or disruptions.

A police major operations center has been set up at national headquarters in Wellington to oversee the hīkoi response in each area, Ryan said.

“We will continue to coordinate with iwi leaders and our partners across government to ensure public safety and minimal disruption to people going about their daily routines.”

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