This bill aims to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in law. It wants to make these principles clearer and easier to understand. The bill hopes to start a national conversation about how these principles fit into New Zealand’s government system.

The Treaty principles help make sense of the differences between the Māori and English versions of the Treaty. They are used to help the government make decisions and to interpret laws. This bill defines three main principles:

1. Civil government: The New Zealand Government and Parliament have the power to govern and make laws for everyone, following the rule of law and maintaining a free and democratic society.

2. Rights of hapū and iwi Māori: The Crown recognises the rights that hapū and iwi had when they signed the Treaty. These rights are different from general rights only when they are specified in Treaty settlements.

3. Right to equality: Everyone is equal under the law and has the same rights without discrimination.

The bill will only be used to help understand laws where Treaty principles are relevant. It doesn’t change the Treaty itself or affect Treaty settlement Acts. For the bill to become law, most voters must support it in a referendum. If they do, it will start six months after the referendum results are announced. If most voters don’t support it, the bill will be cancelled.