“The timing is disappointing, the progress of this bill is disappointing for those seeking genuine recognition of human rights. Te Tiriti or Waitangi in our legal and constitutional landscape, disappointing but not surprising.

If the government is serious about engaging in this debate, it needs to be based on good information, Takitimu said.

“We absolutely insist that these discussions are based on accurate, good quality information and that they actually allow people to have this discussion with the benefit of being fully and correctly informed.

“That is not the current context of this bill, in fact, quite the contrary, one could say that there are a lot of racial attacks.”

In the second part of Waitangi Tribunal Interim Report – which was made public on Tuesday – the court upheld its previous recommendations but added one more.

“We recommend that the Crown notify a motion to the House of Representatives to refer the Bill to court under section 8(2) of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.”

Once a bill is tabled, the court loses jurisdiction, but Takitimu said in this matter it is acting within its functions as a permanent commission of inquiry.

“They are obviously very keen to keep a close eye on this extremely contentious and controversial bill.”

Ngāti Hine leader Pita Tipene told RNZ he could barely express how angry the news made him.

“I don’t even know what word can be used to describe this particular action that was taken by the government… other than it lacks honor. (It’s) dishonorable to our ancestors who signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and had the honour.

Tipene said bringing forward the date was a deliberate attempt to avoid the national hīkoi which is scheduled to begin next week.

“The government showed determination in pre-empting the hikoi and rushing the introduction of the bill into Parliament, knowing that the hikoi would arrive on a certain date. It really is a twist.

The Treaty Principles Bill is just one part of attempts to undermine the treaty, Tipene said.

“I’m talking about removing the reference to the Treaty of Waitangi, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi, from legislation wherever it is. Let’s not focus too much on the Treaty Principles Bill – although we should – and look at the whole of what this Government intends to do to totally undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive Helmut Modlik, who has publicly debated Seymour, told RNZ the law leader should be censured for his derogatory remarks against the judiciary and the court.

“One of the few checks and balances we have is the separation of our justice system… This coalition has gone out of its way to make derogatory remarks to demean and circumvent our justice system – especially the court. This should worry all New Zealanders.

Modlik refutes the idea that the bill aims to make all New Zealanders equal before the law.

“Really, it’s just about reaching out to a particular part of the political community and seeking political support. It’s not a question of principle or truth,” Modlik said.

Waikato-Tainui’s Tukoroirangi Morgan called the ruling a “direct threat to our constitutional arrangements” and the court’s decision to release its findings a day earlier than expected allowed more evidence to be used in the debate.

“This government’s reckless use of its legislative powers is akin to what we see in dictatorial regimes where human rights are routinely violated by their political leaders.

“This is not how modern first world democracies should operate, because we know that unfettered power fosters corrupt decision-making processes and distrust of our political leadership and direction. »

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said the government “continues to waste everyone’s time and energy on a bill that goes nowhere” and called it an attack on “rangatiratanga” .

“For Ngāi Tahu, it’s simple. In 1840, Ngāi Tahu rangatira committed itself to a constitutional monarchy whose right to govern was based on its obligation to recognize and protect the tino rangatiratanga of the iwi and hapū.

“There is honor in this agreement; it is not something that should be subject to the whims of political parties.

Speaking to RNZ’s Midday Report, David Seymour said there were good reasons to pass the bill.

“This is actually about putting into place the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi which the Treaty of Waitangi Act claimed existed but was not defined in 1975.”

The bill’s first reading will take place next Thursday, it will then go to a select committee for around six months before returning for its second reading and final conclusion – if National and New Zealand First keep their promise to reject it.

-RNZ

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