Making a submission on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill

Sometimes plain and simple is good too

There is just one day left to make your submission on this Bill. I’ve only just made my personal one.

There have been a number of incredible, amazing, well written submission out there - I see them published on LinkedIn and here on Substack, posted on Facebook and Insta - and it leaves me feeling entirely inadequate. My tired brain with its muddled words has struggled to do much more than make this face:

However. This is one of those times that quantity is just as important as quality. Others have written quality work; it is just as valuable to post a simple response.

My submission in its entirety (typos included!) is pasted below:

Submission on Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill

Comments: The Bill seeks to rewrite key components of the Treaty of Waitangi, but has done so without consultation with either Treaty partner. There has been much discussion already regarding Te Tiriti and the articles therein; as a country we ought to be looking to these discussions and develping what Te Tiriti means for the future, not a hastily written Bill engineered by a minor political party.

As a country, we deserve a government that is actively seeking to develop positive relationships between the partners of te Tiriti (the Crown, and Māori), and is actively working to create a country that provides opportunities for human flourishing of all its citizens.

That this Bill, which was not a core part of the coalition agreement, and has been written by a minor political party, has been allowed to progress to Select Committee is deeply disappointing.

Recommendation: That the Bill be discarded in its entirety and does not progress beyond this point.

Let me encourage you, if you haven’t already, to write a simple response opposing the Bill. You can find the submission portal here.