Activists say they have no interest in meeting the Treaty Principles bill's backer, ACT party leader David Seymour, saying they are not at his "beck and call". Hīkoi organiser Eru Kapa-Kingi told Morning Report that such a meeting would be pointless. ACT leader David Seymour said on Sunday he was open to meeting with the organisers of a hīkoi heading to Wellington in support of the Treaty of Waitangi.
His Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its first reading this week, before being referred to a select committee for a six-month select committee process. The hīkoi gathered for a pōwhiri on Sunday night at Te Kao, ahead of its Monday morning departure from Te Rerenga Wairua, Cape Reinga - with a karakia also kicking things off from Bluff. It arrives at Parliament next Tuesday, the date that had been expected for the introduction of the bill to Parliament.
That filing of paperwork which sees details of the proposed legislation made public instead took place last week. Seymour told RNZ he supported the right to protest, but he hoped any opposition to his bill would focus on specific objections to its contents. "It's important to recognise these are people opposed to a range of government policies in relation to the Crown-Māori relationship, but apparently also a number of other policies, including even foreign policy," he said.
"That's fine, there's a legitimate right to protest. So [as] far as the Treaty Principles Bill is concerned, I hope the focus will be on what .
