Watch: Haka erupts in Parliament before Treaty Principles Bill passes first reading

Landmark legislation passes first hurdle to become law

Treaty of Waitangi principles will be enshrined in law for the first time if a bill introduced to Parliament this week passes into law.

The Treaty Principles Bill passed its first reading in Parliament on Thursday, with the support of both the Government and the opposition parties.

The bill would require the Crown to act in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in all of its dealings with Māori.

What are the Treaty Principles?

The Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of New Zealand that was signed in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs.

The treaty has three main principles:

• The Crown has the right to govern New Zealand, but only with the consent of Māori.
• Māori have the right to their own laws, customs, and traditions.
• The Crown and Māori have a duty to cooperate with each other.

The Treaty Principles Bill would enshrine these principles in law, making them binding on the Crown.

Why is the Treaty Principles Bill important?

The Treaty Principles Bill is important because it would give the Treaty of Waitangi more legal weight.

Currently, the treaty is not binding on the Crown, and the government has been able to override its principles on a number of occasions.

The Treaty Principles Bill would make it more difficult for the government to override the treaty, and it would give Māori a stronger legal basis for asserting their rights.

What's next for the Treaty Principles Bill?

The Treaty Principles Bill will now go to the Justice Committee for further consideration.

The committee will hear submissions from the public and from experts on the bill.

The committee will then make recommendations to the House of Representatives, which will vote on whether or not to pass the bill into law.