Andrew Dickens: Why not kill the Treaty Principles Bill now?

Andrew Dickens Afternoons

So the latest twist in the Treaty Principles debate is that the churches have come out against it.

More than 400 church leaders are urging MPs to vote against David Seymour's bill.

It's the latest chapter in a debate that has been described as 'divisive'.

If you don't think it's been divisive you weren't listening to Māori at the King's funeral. They're not hearing the One People argument, because they don't believe the bill promotes that. In fact, they believe the opposite. They believe the Treaty is how we achieve One People Together in agreement.

Personally, I don't care. I don't care if you support Māori and I don't care if you support Mr Seymour.

The fact of the matter is this is a virtue-signalling sideshow and it is divisive. Just like vaccinations and mandates and the Middle East.

The Treaty Principles Bill is divisive. And the reason why it's a virtue-signalling sideshow is because both National and New Zealand First have already said it won't get past the first reading. So it's a dead policy walking.

Why not kill it now and stop wasting our time, money and emotion?

Or the other parties could change their minds and help their coalition partner. But then you'll be branded as flippy-floppy.

Either way, I can't see how this helps National. You have a divided angry nation at each other's throat or you look weak.

Who's in charge of this coalition?

And speaking of which:

Former gun lobbyist Nicole McKee has used her power as a Government minister to reduce regulation for gun clubs - without any public consultation. It's not a major thing, but it is an abandonment of the true democratic process.

Perhaps National needs a reminder that when the legislation was first introduced after the mosque atrocity that every single member of National voted for it. So were you wrong then or are you wrong now?

Both these stories feel like the tail wagging the dog and makes National look weak. And I don't like that.

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