Treaty bill passes first reading but won't go any further

Doug Woolerton

A bill that would strip references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from legislation passed its first reading in Parliament tonight, but it will be defeated the next time there is a vote on it.

It will, however, go to a select committee and the public will have a say on it before it is reported back for a second reading.

The odd circumstances of New Zealand First MP Doug Woolerton's member's bill were that the Government had to vote for it on its first reading under its support agreement with NZ First, but it does not have to back it any further and does not intend to.

The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill went through its first reading on a vote of 111-10 and was sent to the justice and electoral select committee.

Cabinet Minister Steve Maharey said NZ First understood the Government's position.

"We will support the bill on its first reading, but on its first reading only," he said. "It would have a negative impact on the Crown's relationship with Maori."

National voted for it but said further support was highly conditional and the bill would have to be substantially amended.

"Bringing it to Parliament at least gives the public a chance to voice their views," said National's Georgina te Heuheu.

"But it is flawed. It's what you would expect from New Zealand First - a bill that's thrown together just to make a political point."

The Greens and the Maori Party voted against the bill and said they would not support it under any circumstances.

Labour's Maori MPs had to vote for it, although they totally oppose it as well.

"Sometimes we have to do things we don't like," said Labour's Nanaia Mahuta. "We don't agree with this bill but we have an agreement with New Zealand First."

ACT voted for the bill, but party leader Rodney Hide said the situation was absurd. "You've been done like a dog's dinner, Doug," he told Mr Woolerton.

"You've got a deal with the Government which means they'll vote for it on its first reading - and then they're going to kill it."

United Future voted for the bill but, like National, had serious reservations about it.

Mr Woolerton said he did not want to delete references to the Treaty from legislation, just reference to its principles.

"We have been trying for years to get some definition of what the Treaty principles, enshrined in so much of our legislation over the last 20 years, actually are," he said.

"This is in the interests of clarification for the legal and judicial professions, who are tasked with interpreting and applying the law, as much as anything else."

The way the numbers work out on the bill means that on its second reading the Government, the Greens and the Maori Party would have a majority to defeat it even if all the other parties decided to support it.

- NZPA