By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - New Zealand’s parliament voted down a controversial bill Thursday that sought to reinterpret a foundational treaty with its Indigenous Maori population and the British Crown.
The Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the conservative ACT Party, aimed to remove “divisive race-based policies” stemming from the Treaty of Waitangi.
Signed Feb. 6, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi serves as the foundation for the relationship between the New Zealand government and the Maori population.
The bill failed during its second reading in parliament, with the ACT Party’s 11 members voting in favor. A total of 112 lawmakers voted against the bill.
"This is a grubby little bill, born of a grubby little deal. It has had a colossal impact on the fabric of our nation, and this bill will forever be a stain on our country," said main opposition leader Chris Hipkins during the debate.
ACT’s proposal was based on three principles: “That the New Zealand government has the power to govern, and parliament to make laws; that the Crown would respect the rights of Maori at the time the Treaty was signed; and that everyone is equal before the law and entitled to equal protection,” according to the BBC.
The proposal had sparked widespread protest, with nearly 42,000 people demonstrating outside parliament in opposition to the bill in November, reflecting the deep public resistance to redefining the treaty’s interpretation.