New Zealand parliament debates controversial bill as protesters march on capital

14/11/2024 12:37

        New Zealand's parliament on Thursday began a heated debate on a contentious bill aimed at reinterpreting the country's founding agreement as hundreds of protesters continued their march toward the country's capital.
        
        The ACT New Zealand party, a junior partner in the country's centre-right coalition government, last week unveiled the bill which aims to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
        
        First signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs, it lays down how the two parties agreed to govern. The interpretation of clauses in the document still guides legislation and policy today.
        
        The proposed bill passed its first reading on Thursday and will now be sent to a select committee.
        
        Associate Justice Minister David Seymour said the Maori are being given different rights than non-Indigenous citizens, who lose out because of policies specifically designed for the uplift of Maori.
        
        Seymour said people who oppose the bill want to "stir up" fear and division. He added, "My mission is to empower every person."