The Minister for Māori Development says the Government's reception at Waitangi was conducted with aroha and respect.
Tama Potaka joined Breakfast from the Treaty Grounds this morning.
He called today's dawn service "absolutely motivating and inspiring" – and when asked about the Government's reception at Waitangi yesterday amid controversy over its policies affecting Māori, Potaka was positive.
"I thought it was a very aroha-centric moment throughout the pōwhiri process," he said.
"It's a bit like my marriage, things go up and things go down but we still love one another.
"That's how I felt yesterday, that was a very tikanga Māori-oriented kaupapa yesterday."
Potaka said the reception was conducted "with aroha, with love and respect and also with rangimarie, with a peaceful disposition".
Asked about the ACT Party's contentious Treaty Principles Bill, Potaka said the Government had made a commitment.
National agreed to support the bill to the first reading in its coalition agreement with ACT but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said National has "no intention" of supporting the bill beyond the first reading and select committee.
"As you've heard the Prime Minister say on many occasions, that's what we're committed to do and that's the end of it," Potaka said.
Asked whether it could become a conscience vote in Parliament – where members of parties cast their votes independently rather than strictly along agreed party lines – the minister said: "That's a very interesting pātai [question].
"That's probably something it's best for the Prime Minister to respond to rather than myself.
"I'm number 12 on the National Party list and I don't have that responsibility to make those calls."
The Government is "absolutely focused" on progressing historical Treaty settlements, he added.
"The other item that we're really focused on is identifying, clarifying and absolutely focusing on the needs of iwi and Māori communities throughout the motu," Potaka said, singling out the issue of housing.
"Housing is something that's really a major challenge for communities throughout New Zealand and particularly Māori communities."
Asked whether Māori trusted the Government to deliver for them, Potaka said the coalition has mahi to do in this respect.
"I think, over the years, there's been a declining level of trust in the public service and in government.
"That's something that we have to work on really hard, and demonstrate that we're absolutely committed to these education, health, housing outcomes which really underpin a lot of the inequality in our communities and in our society.
"If we can work in different ways, if we can work with a bit of speed but also with community and with business, and especially with iwi, I think we can change the way we do things."
'A threat to Māori rights'
The Labour MP and former Māori Development Minister didn't hold back in his assessment of the ACT leader. (Source: Breakfast)
Later on Breakfast, Labour MP and former Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson didn't hold back in his assessment of ACT leader David Seymour: "[I'm] disappointed with David Seymour, again, because all he wants to do is waffle on about his 'we are the world, let's get rid of Māori rights' korero.
"You saw the response from our people... our people are absolutely furious with his Treaty bill.
"We just don't want that bill, it is so negative and it is a threat to Māori rights."
Jackson said Potaka is "a good man but he's struggling because he's on his own".
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