The Prime Minister says he will refuse any demand from the Act Party for a referendum on the Treaty Principles Bill after the next election – even if he needs Act to form a Government.
At Rātana commemorations on Friday Christopher Luxon repeated his mantra that National would vote down the Act-authored Government Bill at its second reading.
Local Democracy Reporting asked the prime minister whether he would refuse if Act demanded a referendum in exchange for supporting a second-term National-led Government in 2026.
Luxon’s response was terse and unambiguous: “Yes I would. It’s a no from me.”
Act’s leader David Seymour, who wrote the contentious Bill, later responded: “It’s always best not to get too far ahead of yourself. You’ve got to serve the people and see if they re-elect you first.”
Seymour was the only party leader who didn’t turn up to the annual commemoration of the Rātana faith’s founder – he never does.
That left Luxon batting off questions about how annoying it was to repeatedly cop flak on the paepae – and from journalists – for a Bill he swears will not become law.
Seymour refuses to accept the Bill is dead on arrival, repeatedly saying he only has to persuade “a couple of people” and his brainchild could avoid stillbirth.
But that “couple” – Luxon and New Zealand First leader and deputy PM Winston Peters – again swore they’d kill the Bill at its second reading, this time directly promising Rātana leaders, the Morehu [Rātana followers] and the Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kūini Ngā wai hono i te po.
The queen’s advisor and spokesperson Rahui Papa said many Government law changes were causing consternation amongst Māori and ought to be killed off.
“The Treaty Principles Bill should be a dead duck.”
Luxon repeated the promise that’s become his stock response to challenges over the Bill.
“National won’t support the bill, it will be voted down and it won’t become law”.
Peters said the Treaty Principles debate was “convenient for some people to hyperventilate their supporters on a fraud and a fiction.”
As for a duck?: “That Bill is dead on the water.”
Local MP for Te Tai Hauāuru Debbie Ngārewa Packer said Luxon’s referendum refusal for the 2026 election shows how weak his coalition negotiations were after the last vote.
“It wasn’t even a bottom line for ACT the last time,” said the Pāti Māori co-leader.
“I don’t believe that if it came to him being in power for a second term, that he would walk away from it.”
After watching the debate on the marae, the chair of the iwi agency Te Kaahui o Rauru said there were many things his tribe could work on independent of any Government.
Tahinganui Hina said no matter what’s decided in Wellington his organisation remained committed to uplifting Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi.
“It’s not unusual for things to be not in favour of us. The focus is still on our people.”
He’s not sure Luxon would turn down the Treasury benches over the Treaty Principles Bill.
“You never know unfortunately. There are many cards to turn between this and the next election.”
“But actions speak louder than words.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
