From Stuff.
Christopher Luxon says his party does not support the Treaty Principles Bill because it is “divisive”.
Luxon says there is nothing in the bill that he likes and that the National party sees “no need for it”.
He also added that he would consider meeting with protesters from the hīkoi making its way to parliament.
Luxon says the bill is a reality of the MMP system and that there are differences between governing parties.
Prime Minister Luxon let me tell you this for nothing!!!
There are many tens of thousands and more accurately hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who wholeheartedly disagree with you.
Prime Minister Luxon let me ask you this question?
What are you going to do when submissions are received with 200,000 plus (maybe even 300,000 plus) submitters supporting the Treaty Principles Legislation?
Prime Minister Luxon one final question?
Are you sure that every member of your Caucus and National Party membership support your view?
I for one will be very surprised if they all do!!!!!
UPDATE:
A couple oif links to further points of view on this.
Firstly Homepaddock:
Secondly I video by Julian Bachelor – Stop Co Governance:
No Minister 
I’ve said before, and will say it again: I think ACT should break up the government over this and have an election called.
I might agree but I have never heard anyone call David Seymour , “big balls Seymour”
Sigh. Yes, Seymour tends to play it safe. But frankly, this needs to happen, or NZ is fucked. We can’t continue with imaginary Treaty principles that aren’t even based on what Hobson, Hone Heke et al signed. That’s no basis for a country. If National won’t even consider it, there needs to be another election to show them what people think of that. What imaginary votes do National think they will lose by supporting it?
They’d never get into power again. I don’t think the people of NZ would forgive a small party forcing an election. It’d cross a line, plus no major party would ever work with them again, so they’d gain nothing from doing it.
That’s absolute nonsense. People would be over it by Wednesday, and focus on the issues.
No it’s not absolute nonsense. ACT forces an election, ACT will cease to exist. They have to work with a major party and neither would trust them ever again and they would piss off a large amount of NZ
or it could be Act becomes the major party because of their principled stand that the silent majority supports.
A big call by Luxon.
So many things wrong with that call.
So many wrong doors that will open. So much encouragement given to the wrong people. So much legitimation given to extremists in the Māori political spectrum. So much encouragement given to the political activist judiciary.
Luxon: guilty of not understanding the consequences of his own actions.
Luxon: guilty of being mediocre.
Luxon: guilty of not putting “one” New Zealand first.
But I knew that right from the the start, and was vilified on this blog for that. But hey nice to be proved right over the last year.
Interesting to see that Homepaddock is pushing back on this as she is, or has been, a very strong National Party supporter.
Exiled and NR what the reaction to ACT breaking up the Coalition would be is hard to call – if it was Winston First it would be clear cut approbation and consignment to the wilderness next election. With ACT on this matter it is not so clear cut – I think they have engendered a lot of Political goodwill in bringing this to the fore.
If that is the case it is National which may suffer most.
With that in mind it is interesting that Ele at Homepaddock has broken National Party ranks with the post I have linked to. I am not sure if either of you or for that matter other readers are aware that Ele is a past South Island Regional National Party Chairwoman (or should that be Chairperson).
She has effectively called Luxon out on his divisive stance – how many other Senior National Party members are of the same view and if that does extend into their Caucus how deep does it go?
So many unanswered questions at the moment and interesting times ahead I think.
I think for me I think it’s incredibly important that this bill has been raised and it is an issue that is worth discussing. I applaud Seymour for doing it, in the same way as a euthanasia bill. And I support him on it.
Bringing down a government on the issue though? That would be a different matter.
Would he have to bring down the Govt ?
He could withdraw from the coalition and support the Govt only on matters of finance, or whatever they call it.
That would make it difficult for Luxon, and if Luxon wanted to call an election it would be on him, not Seymour.
If Luxon gets a caning on this like the massive misjudgment Key made over the flag, then it could well be Luxon’s swan song.
I’m not sure what Luxon is, he’s not CEO material, he’s not a politician, he’s got a fancy yacht so I guess he can tell which way the wind is blowing…..but maybe not if he’s a sailor for show
If this is one of Acts core principles, and I believe it is, then I suggest this is the principled course of action for Mr Seymour.
Confidence and Supply Rossco.
I was browsing some old and new political videos last night and one that I stumbled across was Seymour, pre election, saying exactly that.
As far as blame – I think the media would like nothing more than to `dump on’ ACT if they left the coalition and I wonder if ACT has the depth of support to withstand such a blitz.
Agree PDM, but the Trump win and things in Europe indicate there are new breezes blowing in the world.
i guess a true politician could divine that breeze here and ride it , if he believed that was where the world is going in little old NZ.
How many chances wil Seymour get to bebother tha bit player?..
Hard to see Seymour being replaced as leader in the short term. Only Brooke van Velden has the experience and talent in their Caucus at present I think and from what I see she and Seymour work closely and well together.
Not sure they could afford to lose the uniqueness he currently brings to the overall NZ political scene.
Does Luxon have the education to fight the issue.?
Does he know Maori history pre 1840.
Does Luxon know the Treaty true intent as signed?
Does Luxon know the history of the Treaty and its distortion and corruption post Geoffrey Palmer?
Is Luxon a political prisnor of Winston?
kevn
Edit
Stuff link, sorry folks.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360482519/live-treaty-principles-bill-passes-first-reading-not-haka-interrupts-voting