Seymour relaxed as he takes hot seat at Waitangi

David Seymour is no stranger to Waitangi but accepts this year may be slightly different.

The Act leader, who has attended the annual celebrations since 2015 following his election to Parliament, also has ancestral ties to Northland hapū Ngāti Rēhia so the pilgrimage is something of a homecoming.

This time, Seymour comes as a Cabinet minister and future Deputy Prime Minister, but also the creator and leader of a bill intending to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi — legislation which in part prompted the Māori King to call a national hui and led to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon receiving challenge after challenge to ditch the bill at Rātana.

Waitangi will be Māoridom’s first public chance to talk to him in person but Seymour says he isn’t concerned about the reaction he might receive.

Seymour believes much of the discourse surrounding his bill is misinformed. He considers claims he is erasing or rewriting the Treaty as “insane”.

He acknowledges a “legitimate view” from some that signing chiefs believed they would be in a partnership on par with the Crown, which Seymour contests.

“We‘re saying, we think they signed up to the idea that everyone living in these lands would have those rights and protections.”

Some of those opposing him on the paepae may well be his own whanaunga (relatives). Seymour says he understands Ngāti Rēhia kaumātua Kipa Munro is set to speak on Monday.

Some members of Ngāti Rēhia have already expressed their unhappiness with Seymour’s actions. They even requested a meeting with him late last year.

“On the one hand, they’ve said that they’re proud that a member of our hapu¯ is going to be the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. On the [other], they’re anxious about some of the positions that we’re taking.”

While he’s aware of the challenges he might receive, Seymour is optimistic progress can be made.

“I suspect, as usual, Waitangi will be much more constructive than the image of it from a distance.”

It’s a sentiment often repeated by Luxon and his Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka who, in the face of strong criticism of their policies, are firm in the belief the Government can work to provide better outcomes for Māori.

Potaka told the Herald he had no expectations regarding how Seymour might be received but was eager to hear what he had to say.

“Last year’s kōrero, it was amazing, it was very, very, very helpful to hear David express his concerns and his observations and his welcoming tones in te reo Māori.”

Potaka is relatively inexperienced with the annual celebrations at the Treaty grounds, having only attended last year following his success in the Hamilton West byelection.

He recognises Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is among the primary concerns Māori have with his Government but indicated National’s position would not change from its promise to support it through to the select committee stage and then decide whether to support it further.

Former Labour Northland MP Kelvin Davis used his valedictory this week to lament changes to this year’s Waitangi celebrations that will see the Opposition and the Government welcomed with separate pōwhiri instead of one for all as it was under the last Labour Government.

Potaka isn’t concerned by the change.

“In my experience, the previous Government was very careful to present an approach that was more unified, but often the actual implementation of that was skewed in favour of the Government.”

New Zealand First Minister Shane Jones holds a different view and sees the value in a joint welcome.

“The parliamentary elected community coming as one group of New Zealand legislators to Waitangi was very positive.”

Jones, of Northland’s Te Aupōuri and Ngāi Takoto iwi, sees the possibility of constructive kōrero occurring despite the backlash from Māori.

“I genuinely feel that Waitangi will signify the fact there has to be a mature discussion going forward as to what role in law, in government, will the principle of the Treaty now play.”

Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono believes Luxon’s only option to save face is to wash his hands of the bill altogether.

“It’s an incredibly contentious bill. Leadership is actually [saying], ‘This bill dies right here, right now, it’s too divisive and it’s got to end’.”