Helmut Modlik: Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive on the backlash to ACT's Treaty Principles Bill being introduced

There was controversy in Parliament today, following the introduction of ACT's Treaty Principles Bill. 

If adopted, it would set out the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in law and require them to be used when interpreting legislation.

It faced tough questioning from Te Pati Maori, who made several attempts to have it withdrawn. 

Ngati Toa Iwi chief executive Helmut Modlik says he listened in the public gallery for an hour, then couldn't watch any longer. 

"I gave him a direct look... and then turned on my heels and left."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Idgether do to see out three.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Times one hundred thousand heither, be honest? Did you have
to use your calculator? Mate? I did maths in New Zealand.
I did school see maths, so yes, of course I
did eight. I don't know how to do maths. Eighteen
past five. Now the Treaty Principal's Bill has finally been
introduced to Parliament, which means, of course, we've finally got
our first look at the thing. Pretty much exactly as expected,
except for the second principle, which promises to respect and

(00:24):
protect the rights that Hapu and Ewe Marii had under
the Treaty of Waititangi as long as they're the same
as everyone else's, or if they're different, as long as
they're the result of a treaty settlement. Nade tour Ewe
Chief Executive Helpment Modlick is with me now, her helmer. Sure,
is that all good with you?

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Sorry?

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Is that all good with you?

Speaker 3 (00:45):
I've made my views very clear on the lack of logic,
truth telling, and ethics and connection with the whole exercise.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
So no, no, nothing good about it seconds either.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Oh okay, So is there anything that David C. Will
could do to this to make you happy.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
I'll tell the truth. Tell the truth.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
So, I mean, the whole premise of this one renegotiatate,
renegotiation of the of the treaty without participation of one
of the parties to the treaty, doesn't even make sense here.
So if there was, if this was a serious attempt
to to be honorable, to tell truth, and to pursue
a just position to go forward on, this bill offers

(01:31):
up nothing that marries up those characters.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Okay, So I mean, so helmet. If you have a
problem with the Crown side even rewriting the thing in
the first place, then there's no debate, right, There's nothing
that they could do that can pretend that there would
ever be up for discussion with you that would satisfy you.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
Oh, absolutely there would be.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
So the words are written in black and white and
there if you want to understand what they mean, to
have a look in a marriage dictionary that what's required,
like any contract that's been intoed into, was to be
honored by both sides.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Now that's problematic for a range of reasons.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
But over the last probably forty fifty years, we've been
on a journey of truth telling and reconciliation and attempting
to do that one fell sweep coalitions come in reverse
that project of truth and reconciliation and looking to unilaterally
renegotiate the terms of that agreement.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
As I say, nothing about that is just a weakircle.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Hey, what happened in Parliament today?

Speaker 1 (02:30):
So first, you know, the bill was entered into the House.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
I don't mean that like I know how that works.
What happened by you shouting or doing signs and stuff up.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
In the that's not our way pulling.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, well, you know I sat there for over and
now listening to parliamentarians flying their trade and was reminded,
in fact, how come my debate with David was so
frustrating because you know, for the more part I listened
to people of avoiding, answering Christians, you know, of obvious
gaping and just yeah, it was really hard to listen to.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
So at the end there there was some questions.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
That were pointedly given to the current Minister of Development
that related both to the bill, but more particularly at
the end related to the relationship and the tenor of
the relationship between the married community and the coalition government's
as the direct question about.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
Whether it was I know, I know the stuff I left,
I still left.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
I gave them a direct look and with what you
can imagine look on my face and turned on the
heels and left.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
I just couldn't stand it any longer enough.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
Helmet, thanks very much, made appreciated helmet Modelick not to
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