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Christopher Luxon hits out at Wellington City Council
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Chris Luxon speaks to the media at Ratana
NOW PLAYING • Focus Live: Chris Luxon speaks to media
Chris Luxon speaks to the media at Ratana
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he has been clear National won’t support the Treaty Principles Bill past select committee.
Speaking to media after giving a speech at Rātana Pā, Luxon said there was a “range of views and feelings and people are free to express it”.
“I want to hear that. That’s why I’m here,” he said.
“The position of the National Party: no intention, no commitment, it’s not a policy we support.”
“We’re part of a coalition government, we made a commitment that we would support a first reading of an Act bill up until first reading and nothing beyond that... I don’t know how to be any clearer.”
“The point is I enjoy being here and I don’t mind the provocation, I don’t mind the challenge. It’s important to be able to hear those voices and respect it.”
Luxon said iwi leaders understood the Government wouldn’t support the bill past first reading based on what they had told him in recent meetings.
'Incredibly positive': Luxon and Willis speak on inflation rate announcement
Luxon appeared to take credit for the lower inflation rate announced today. His finance minister Nicola Willis interrupted his answer and said, "It's less about taking credit and more about acknowledging it's an incredibly positive thing for New Zealand".
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24 January, 03:47 am
Luxon reacts to Winston Peters and Shane Jones being booed
"You've got to engage, don't you," Luxon said of Winston Peters and Shane Jones being booed.
"Shane Jones wants to improve outcomes for Māori, big time," Luxon said.
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24 January, 03:40 am
Luxon pressed on Seymour's absence
On the Treaty Principles Bill and David Seymour's absence from Rātana, Luxon said "I've left that as free choice and free will as to whether they turn up".
Pressed on whether Seymour should have been there, Luxon said it was a question better addressed to Seymour.
"Those are questions for him. What I would say to you is; I'm pleased to be here.
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24 January, 03:39 am
'Standing up for values': PM on world conflict and NZDF support
On the NZDF deployment to the Red Sea, Luxon said drawing links between Gaza and Houthi rebels was "absolutely and utterly wrong".
He said, "this is a serious issue for the world. We're standing up for values here".
"New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to peace in the Middle East.
"This is a continuation of what we've been doing.
"The reality is, we want to be part of a world that stands up for values.
"We are going to make sure we follow up and play our part in the world.
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24 January, 03:32 am
'That's why I'm here': Luxon speaks following public reaction to his Rātana speech
Prime Minster Christopher Luxon said there was a "range of views and feelings and people are free to express it".
"I want to hear that. That's why I'm here," he said.
Luxon said he had been clear National would not support the Treaty Principles Bill past select committee.
"There is no commitment to supporting it past first reading. I don't know how to be any clearer.
"The position of the National Party: no intention, no commitment, it's not a policy we support," he said.
Luxon said iwi leaders understood the Government wouldn't support the bill past first reading based on what they had told him in recent meetings.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by Māori Affairs Minister Tama Potaka an Finance Minister Nicola Willis during media standup at Rātana Pā. Photo / Mark Mitchell
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24 January, 03:19 am
'People shouldn't fear the debate': Shane Jones speaks on the future principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says the Government is "trying to implement our programme, which is beyond one single bill".
Jones said, "the notion we [the Government] is the enemy is just rhetoric".
Jones said New Zealand First would stick to its coalition agreement.
"People shouldn't fear the debate that relates to the future of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
"The style of politics that my leader and I represent, it does attract adverse reactions from people from time to time."
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24 January, 02:52 am
Verdict on Christopher Luxon's Rātana te reo
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon began his speech in Te reo Māori after receiving subsidised language lessons from taxpayers.
He said an opening phrase used for general prayers at important events:
“Glory to god. Peace to the land. Thoughts and prayers to everyone. To those who have passed, go well, and to those of us who are here, thank you all.”
Luxon ended his speech with a basic closing by thanking those who were in attendance.
Two fluent speakers of the language said it was “ka pai” on his part to use simple phrases to open and close his speech.
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24 January, 02:19 am
'When Māori do better, we will all do better': Luxon speaks on strengthening New Zealand
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his speech at Rātana Pā. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Luxon said the country was strongest when businesses, iwi and communities worked together instead of leaving it to the Government. He cites his conversations with South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu and how it had thrived.
He restated his Government’s preference for localism and devolution, saying there wouldn’t be more bureaucracy created under his leadership
"We will not be creating more bureacracy in Wellington
“We do want to work with you, we do want to partner with you. It doesn’t mean we will always agree on everything.”
In what is quite a typical speech for Luxon, he is referencing the importance of a strong economy and boosting productivity.
"We need a strong economy to create the wealth."
His final message was “I am committed to Māori progress”, saying everyone in his Government was also committed
"When Māori do better, we will all do better
"This is a government with a big vision."
I am committed to Māori progress. I would not lead a party who did not believe in better outcomes for all."
His actual final message was that he was looking forward to “actually getting things done for New Zealanders”.
The pōwhiri ended with no customary hongi between the tangata te whenua and the manuhiri (visitors) but a couple of waiata from the home peoples.
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24 January, 02:12 am
'Nothing is more important': Luxon on education and opportunity in NZ
Luxon said it was parents’ responsibility to keep children in education every day, citing how many children weren’t regularly at school.
“The bottom line is, [those children] don’t get the same opportunities…as a result of that.”
Luxon is now listing the Government’s education policies, saying they were an example of the Government wanting to work together.
He didn’t want to “give out handouts” to help people get ahead, instead, he wanted to provide opportunity.
"We will back our kaupapa Māori systems."
"Nothing is more important than educating our kids."
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24 January, 02:08 am
'No plans to amend or revise the Treaty': PM Christopher Luxon speaks
PM Christopher Luxon, after a brief mihi, spoke in English and thanked his hosts.
Luxon said he was asked if he would attend Rātana. I always enjoy coming and will continue to come.
“The Government has no plans to amend or revise the Treaty or the Treaty settlements…the Government will honour the treaty.”
"I stand before you today as PM and leader of the National Party, the party of Apriana Ngata."
On te reo Māori, Luxon said National had originally supported the establishment of Kohanga Reo and how many young people at Rātana would be speaking the reo fluently.
“I only wish that I could do the same.”
National supported the forerunner of Te Reo Maori and the Kura kaupapa.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his speech at Rātana Pā. Photo / Mark Mitchell
He spoke of how some felt “embarrassed and lost” by not understanding te reo and Luxon said that was important to recognise.
His main point was about how the Government would achieve better outcomes for Māori.
The Government cared deeply about people and Luxon said showing it was important, not just talking about it.
It is a legal right of all New Zealanders to speak te reo.
“The Government know many Māori are doing it tough, many New Zealanders are doing it tough,” Luxon said while saying he was passionate about affording New Zealanders equal opportunity.
"We care deeply about people but actually show it and get things down and not just talk about it.
STORY CONTINUES
Luxon and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, along with a government delegation, were earlier welcomed to Rātana Pā.
Earlier, Labour leader Chris Hipkins warned the coalition Government would “take New Zealand backwards” in matters of race relations while also conceding his Government didn’t get everything right by leaving non-Māori out of advancements made.
Hipkins was speaking at Rātana Pā, where politicians celebrate the annual Rātana Church celebrations - which is often considered the unofficial beginning of the political year.
Hipkins hit out against the Government for having an agenda to take New Zealand backwards, scrapping the Māori health authority, limiting the use of te reo in the public service and rewriting Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He said the government’s policies would “encourage, foster and enable racism” and that it “should be called out for what it is”.
He did accept that Labour “didn’t get everything right” because it didn’t bring non-Māori with them. He pledged to “redouble efforts to do that”.
Labour’s Peeni Henare and Greens co-leader Marama Davidson have both spoken to media ahead of their welcome, criticising coalition Government for “wasting time” with the Treaty Principles Bill when National and NZ First hadn’t committed to supporting the contentious bill past the select committee stage.
Hipkins led the Opposition convoy from the Rātana Church, led by the famous Rātana band, to the marae. He walked next to Davidson, the pair chatted and laughed and they slowly walked the short journey to the marae.
Davidson urged Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to “listen to Māori” and “shouldn’t say much at all”.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson and Labour leader Chris Hopkins leading their MPs during their powhiri at Rātana Pā. Photo / Mark Mitchell
She claimed the coalition and in particular Act leader David Seymour, were “appealing to the worst of us” through their proposed policies, which include the bill that sought to redefine the Treaty principles.
National’s coalition agreement with Act included no commitment to support the bill into legislation. NZ First minister Shane Jones was vague on whether his party would vote in favour of the bill.
Henare said the Government should stop “wasting time” with the bill if they wouldn’t support it.
Yesterday Luxon said he was aware of the challenges he’s set to face from Māori leaders at Rātana amid growing concern about how the Government’s policies could affect Māoridom.
Luxon will address leaders at Rātana Pā in Whanganui today as part of the annual Rātana Church celebrations, which included the opportunity for church and iwi leaders to converse with politicians about Māori issues.
The event, often said to be the start of the political year, is taking place only days after more than 10,000 people converged on Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia for a national hui, organised by the Kīngitanga, on some of the Government’s proposed policies regarding te reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including stripping Treaty references from legislation and downplaying the importance of te reo in the public service.
Māori King Kīngi Tūheitia issued a message of hope that Māori could unify and protest by living Māori values, but did issue a strong condemnation of the proposed Treaty Principles Bill, which aimed to redefine Treaty principles.
The bill, which had become a flashpoint for Māori at the hui, was created by Act and guaranteed support by National through the House only until the select committee process. Luxon hadn’t clarified whether National would support it further.
Some of the kōrero that emerged from Saturday’s hui included claims accusing the Government of being underpinned by white supremacy, something echoed by Te Pāti Māori leadership, and which Luxon rejected outright.
Luxon yesterday said his experience at Rātana last year and several visits to Waitangi had prepared him for what could be tough conversations.
“That’s my observation, is that’s the place where we should have challenging provocation and stimulation and that’s okay.”
Despite the hui prompting strong concern about his government’s policies, Luxon said it hadn’t changed the message he would be sending today.
“My message will be actually sort of laying out where we’re coming from as a government and how we want to work and partner with Māori to deliver improved outcomes.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi was confident Luxon and other government representatives would face strong challenges in kōrero from Māori leaders, but would also be respected.
“Manuhiri [visitors] on the marae at Rātana and Tūrangawaewae have always treated people with respect,” Waititi told the Herald.
“I know there will be courageous kōrero on the marae and that’s where courageous kōrero should be.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi speaking at last year's Rātana celebration. Photo / RNZ
Waititi, co-leader and Rātana morehu (follower) Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and others from Te Pāti Māori were welcomed onto Rātana Pā yesterday alongside Kīngi Tūheitia and representatives of the Kīngitanga — before all other political parties, which would arrive in Rātana today.
Waititi yesterday explained it was intended to show the party’s “realignment to the mana motuhake [self-determination] space”.
“The Treaty was signed between tangata whenua and the Crown and so this is the realignment of our political waka to our mana motuhake space and allowing us to be the manifestation of the journeys of our people within a kāwanatanga [government] space and the representation of mana motuhake within a government or a kāwanatanga space.”
Party leaders, alongside their public speeches, would also have private meetings with Rātana and iwi leaders.
Te Taepa Kameta, spokesman for Rātana tumuaki (president) Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamou, wasn’t surprised by the enormous crowd in Ngāruawāhia on Saturday, and Rātana Pā to be busy this week.
The Rātana Church is a movement with long-held ties to the Labour Party. Photo / Whakaata Māori
“At the end of the day, when you poke the taniwha enough, the taniwha is obviously going to wake.
“I think by touching Te Tiriti o Waitangi [te reo version of the Treaty], something that we were all so passionate about, I think they have gone and awakened the taniwha.
“It’s a matter of sitting down with the three-headed beast, and I’m talking about the Government here and the three leaders, to sit down and to have these types of discussions with them so that we were able to move forward in the best way possible for everybody.”
While Luxon and NZ First leader Winston Peters were expected to attend, Act leader David Seymour would be absent. It was understood no one from Act would be in attendance.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got the prime minister and the deputy at this point in time, so it doesn’t really matter if [Seymour] shows up or not,” Kameta said.
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.
