Rightwing party's bill to curb Māori protections goes before parliament

A bill that seeks to fundamentally change how New Zealand's agreement between Māori and the government is interpreted in modern times will be introduced to parliament today, nearly two weeks ahead of its initial schedule.

- Eva Corlett

The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealand's founding document and is instrumental in upholding Māori rights.

The bill will be tabled in parliament by the libertarian Act party, a minor partner in New Zealand's right-leaning coalition government that has regularly called for an end to "division by race".

The bill was originally scheduled to be introduced on 18 November, the day before a large protest against it was due to march to parliament. The government has rejected suggestions that the move was calculated.

The bill proposes to get rid of a set of well-established principles that guide the relationship between Māori and ruling authorities in favour of its own, redefined principles. Act believes Māori have been afforded different political and legal rights and privileges compared with non-Māori, because of the way the Treaty of Waitangi has been interpreted.