In a decisive moment for New Zealand's constitutional landscape, parliament has comprehensively voted down the contentious Treaty Principles Bill, a piece of legislation that sought to redefine the relationship between the Crown and Māori established by the nation's founding document. The bill's defeat, by a margin of 112 votes to 11, marks the culmination of months of heated debate and significant public protest that captured international attention.
The Vote and Its Immediate Aftermath
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, New Zealand's parliament rejected the Treaty Principles Bill during its second reading. Only the 11 MPs from the right-wing ACT Party, which had proposed the legislation, voted in favor Reuters1. The overwhelming opposition included MPs from the governing National Party and New Zealand First, who had initially supported the bill through its first reading but withdrew their backing for its passage into law.
The moment of the bill's defeat was marked by a powerful display of unity and emotion. According to reports, politicians from both sides of the house broke into song following the vote, joining in a traditional Māori waiata (song) in a spontaneous celebration of the bill's defeat CNN2.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins characterized the defeated legislation as a "grubby little bill born from a grubby little deal," and criticized National MPs for their initial support, stating they "led nothing, they stopped nothing, and they stood for nothing" The Guardian3.
Understanding the Treaty Principles Bill
The bill, officially titled the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, was championed by ACT Party leader David Seymour. It aimed to legally define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi—New Zealand's founding document signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs Reuters1.
Seymour argued that Parliament needed to define these principles because existing definitions were scattered across various legal judgments and government guidelines. He maintained that the bill would "provide certainty and clarity" and promote debate on the treaty's place in constitutional arrangements Reuters1.
However, critics, including Māori leaders and legal experts, contended that the bill would replace principles developed over decades with a new interpretation that could weaken Māori rights The Guardian3.
The Treaty of Waitangi and Its Principles
To understand the controversy, it's essential to grasp the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles in New Zealand society.
The Treaty, first signed on February 6, 1840, established the relationship between the British Crown and Māori, laying down how the two parties agreed to govern Reuters1. It is considered New Zealand's founding document and continues to influence legislation and policy today.
Over decades, courts and parliament have developed a set of principles derived from the Treaty to guide the relationship between the Crown and Māori Wikipedia4. These include:
- Partnership – The treaty established a partnership imposing on both parties a duty to act reasonably and in good faith
- Protection – The Crown's duty of active protection of Māori interests, rights, and resources
- Participation – Ensuring Māori participation in decisions affecting them
Additional principles include the recognition of Crown governance (kawanatanga) balanced with Māori self-management (rangatiratanga), equality under the law, cooperation through consultation, and the Crown's responsibility to remedy past breaches Wikipedia4.
These principles are incorporated into over 35 pieces of New Zealand legislation and provide a framework for the Waitangi Tribunal to evaluate Crown actions and address grievances.
Public Opposition and Protest
The bill sparked unprecedented public opposition across New Zealand. In November 2024, tens of thousands of people marched on the country's parliament in one of the largest protests in New Zealand's history Reuters1.
According to the BBC, more than 300,000 submissions were made to the parliamentary select committee regarding the bill—the largest response to any proposed legislation in New Zealand's history, with the vast majority opposing it BBC News5.
The opposition culminated in a dramatic moment in November when Māori MPs performed a haka (traditional ceremonial dance) in parliament, temporarily halting proceedings in protest against the bill BBC News5.
Perspectives from Key Stakeholders
Various stakeholders expressed strong views on the bill and its defeat:
David Seymour (ACT Party Leader): "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." Despite the defeat, Seymour has indicated he will continue campaigning on the issue, stating on social media that "this Bill or something like it will pass one day because there are not good arguments against its contents" BBC News5.
Marama Davidson (Green Party Co-leader): "The Treaty Principles Bill is dead. Our movement for Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) justice lives on" Reuters1.
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pāti Māori MP): The bill had been "annihilated" by hundreds of thousands of opposing voices The Guardian3.
Paul Goldsmith (Justice Minister): While acknowledging the bill was "a crude way to deal with a very sensitive topic," he emphasized New Zealand's resilience in debating the Treaty's role The Guardian3.
Sharon Hawke (Māori rights advocate): The legislation would have "stripped the fabric" of progress made in improving conditions for Māori over the last three decades BBC News5.
Expert Analysis and Concerns
A Waitangi Tribunal report had warned that if enacted, the bill would represent "the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty … in modern times" The Guardian3.
Critics argued that the bill would remove long-standing checks on the Crown's responsibilities toward Māori and radically alter legal and political protections enshrined by the Treaty The Guardian3.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the bill as being "based on a mythology" that suggested Māori had special privilege, despite evidence that on many metrics Māori fare worse than non-Māori in areas such as health, education, and income The Guardian3.
Future Implications
While the bill's defeat marks the end of this particular legislative attempt, the debate over the Treaty principles is far from over. ACT leader David Seymour has indicated he will continue campaigning on the issue, suggesting that similar legislation may be proposed in the future BBC News5.
Some have called for a national conversation or even a referendum to clarify the principles of the Treaty, suggesting that the legislative process was only one step in an ongoing debate over how to interpret and legally define the foundational document BBC News5.
The overwhelming parliamentary and public opposition to the bill, however, demonstrates the strong commitment many New Zealanders feel toward preserving the established interpretations of the Treaty principles that have developed over decades through court decisions and government policy.
Conclusion
The defeat of the Treaty Principles Bill represents a significant moment in New Zealand's ongoing journey to reconcile its colonial past with its multicultural present. The overwhelming rejection—112 votes against to just 11 in favor—reflects a broad consensus against attempts to redefine the principles that have guided the nation's approach to Māori rights and Crown responsibilities for decades.
As New Zealand continues to grapple with questions of identity, governance, and the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles remain central to these discussions. The bill's defeat doesn't end the conversation but rather reinforces the importance of preserving the progress made in recognizing and implementing the Treaty's vision of partnership, protection, and participation.
For now, the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi—developed through decades of legal interpretation, government policy, and societal evolution—remain intact, continuing to guide New Zealand's unique approach to addressing historical injustices and building a more equitable society.
This blog post is based on reporting from multiple international news sources, including Reuters, The Guardian, and BBC News, as well as contextual information from Wikipedia and other resources on the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.
