With the much ado about nothing over ACTs Treaty Principles bill, and the Hikoi to protest about something that’s not going to happen, let’s just go back in history – and not that far either.
In 2005 NZ First raised this issue of the Treaty Principles, and at the time they were in a coalition government with Labour.
Whilst Labour had initially voted down such a bill, they subsequently changed their minds when in coalition.
The transcripts via Hansard of Nanaia Mahuta, who back then was a very prominent front bench member of the Labour Party said “sometimes we do things we do not like but we do them so we can truely appreciate what we have”
There was an agreement in the coalition agreement at that time.
Mahuta said at the time that they welcomed “a full debate”.
So in 2005 it’s ok for the Labour Party to work with a coalition partner, NZ First, and support a bill through to Select Committee stage, but in 2023 it’s now not ok for a coalition government to do the same!
And, National was only supporting up to the first reading stage.
Labour has the audacity to claim in 2024 that our Parliament is being disrespected.
The stench of hypocrisy once again from Labour … how short their memories really are.
