12 September 2024

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has called on the New Zealand Government to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill, saying it will have a negative impact on health outcomes for Māori.

RACP Māori Health Committee Chair Dr Matt Wheeler said the principles outlined in the bill diminish the constitutional status of the Treaty/te Tiriti.

“This bill undermines the state’s responsibility to collaborate with Māori, rendering the Treaty/te Tiriti and its obligations meaningless. Consequently, equitable healthcare, a fundamental right for Māori, will continue to suffer,” Dr Wheeler said.

“Nothing good can come from the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill. I refer to it as the Coalition Government’s bill rather than Act’s bill because the Government of the day agreed to support it to its first reading, regardless of its potential success beyond November.

“The RACP has grave concerns about the bill’s direct and indirect impacts on people’s health. Questioning the ‘principles’ of the founding document emboldens racism and causes stress which can lead to a range of health problems. No matter the outcome, the mere progression of this bill is already causing harm.

“This bill represents another setback for Māori health, following the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora and the scrapping of Smokefree Legislation. When will it be enough?

"The Royal Australasian College of Physicians urges the Coalition Government to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill and focus on uniting New Zealanders, rather than driving them apart.

“In the words of the late Kiingi Tuheitia: We should use this time to build kotahitanga. We need to be united first, and then we decide our future.”