History / Refugees And Migrants

Māori Party slams ACT Party's proposed referendum on co-governance

07:36 am on 25 March 2022

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The ACT party is calling for a referendum on co-governance.

It says the country is abandoning liberal democracy and replacing it with an "ethno state" where there are two types of people: Tangata whenua, here by right, and tangata / tiriti, here by the grace of whatever the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal think the Treaty means.

In a speech to the Milford Rotary Club yesterday he said "over the past forty years there has been a quiet shift in the way that the Treaty is interpreted".

He says the problem is that "this shift is transforming our constitutional underpinnings, but has never been subject to public debate".

Citing Three waters, the health reforms and He Puapua, Seymour says we are now seeking to create division.

David Seymour says a referendum is a bottom-line in any coalition talks after next year's election.

Seymour has declined Morning Report's offer to speak to him.

Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer spoke to Guyon Espiner.