Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has dug in on his intention not to support ACT's controversial Treaty Principles Bill past the first reading — confirming he views the Treaty of Waitangi as "akin to partnership" between the Crown and Māori.
The proposed bill, spearheaded by ACT leader David Seymour, was part of ACT's coalition deal with National. It would seek to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, with Seymour rejecting that the treaty "created a partnership between races".
"This divisive idea has been fuelled by unelected bureaucrats and judges promoting a 'partnership' interpretation of our founding document," he said over the weekend.
Luxon has previously said National had "no intention" to support the bill beyond the first reading and select committee but still refused to fully commit to voting it down at later stages.
Seymour told Breakfast last week: "When the Prime Minister says there's no commitment to go further, that means that he is not committing to go further but he also is not saying that he won't."
However, Luxon told media at Parliament today: "We have a coalition agreement, we've said that we will actually support that bill through the first reading and there's no commitment, no intention, no support beyond that.
"My personal view is, it's a relationship between Crown and iwi, it's akin to a partnership and as we've been working through over a number of decades and years — we'll continue to work through that," he said.
Asked if that meant he disagreed with Seymour's view, Luxon repeated: "I see it as a relationship between Crown and iwi and I see it akin to a partnership."
On Friday, Luxon gave Seymour more responsibility over the 'highly contentious' legislation. The ACT leader will now become an Associate Justice Minister with responsibility for the Treaty Principles Bill.
The prime minister said that appointment "just made sense".
"It's an ACT policy, it's important and appropriate that he leads it," Luxon said. "It's right that David Seymour's accountable for it."
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