D Dawson

In reply to Alistair Anderson’s opinion, “The Treaty vs the Treaty Principles Bill,”, (Beacon, January 3). First, no one has suggested changing the wording in the 1987 Treaty Principles Bill. The bill has been around for 38 years.

When Jacinda Ardern’s Labour coalition government got into power seven years ago, things were changed concerning the Treaty Principles Bill to favour Māori. The true meaning of the Principles Bill has been reinterpreted to gain monetary favour and extend Treaty payments. Some Māori seem afraid to discuss the bill in case it leads to losing favour.

The Treaty Bill does not need any changes, just the interpretation of the bill put back to 1987. The Government has a mandate to take submissions from all New Zealanders, including Māori to discuss the bill, which means there is no reason to apologise.

The bill is about defining the principles and how they should be interpreted and applied. If the bill is passed through Parliament, it will not come into force until a  referendum is held and a majority of voters support the bill. What could be fairer than that?