Overview

• The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, is considered New Zealand's founding document and outlines Māori rights and relations with the British Crown.
• The newly introduced Treaty Principles Bill aims to redefine the treaty's principles, a move initiated by the ACT Party within New Zealand's coalition government.
• Critics argue that the bill undermines Māori rights, potentially reversing decades of progress and igniting racial tensions.
• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National Party has agreed to support the bill only through its first reading, with no plans to advance it further.
• Protests have erupted across New Zealand, with Māori leaders condemning the bill as a threat to social cohesion and the Māori-Crown relationship.