National's Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has re-iterated that the party has no intention to support the Treaty Principles Bill set for its first reading in a select committee.

The bill is the result of the Act Party's desire to introduce legislation that would seek to redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi - it was long proposed and pushed by party leader David Seymour.

When Act was formed as part of a coalition with National and NZ First, Seymour pushed for the bill's reading to become part of the coalition agreement, which both parties eventually conceded to during negotiations.

However, National outlined from the beginning that while the bill would be put through a first reading in May, the party did not intend to support it.

Talking to The Mike Hosking Breakfast with Tim Dower this morning, Potaka was firm on his party's stance on the bill.

"We've got no commitment or no intentions to support ... the Treaty Principles Bill going through first reading and select committee," he said.

The bill covers three main bullet points - the right to govern all New Zealanders, honouring all New Zealanders in land and property, as well as everyone being equal under the law. Potaka was asked how these three points differ from what is seen today.

"Well, those are the materials that have been socialised so far through the [Act Party] campaign, I don't think we've seen a specific draft bill yet and what's being proposed," he said.

"Of course, it's a referendum on these matters - National has been clear that we don't support a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi."

Seymour has been optimistic about his chances of seeing the bill progress further than just a first hearing, telling the media on numerous occasions during the election trail that the country was ready for a debate on Treaty interpretation.

David Seymour told Newstalk ZB yesterday he believed there might be a change of tune in his coalition counterparts as discussion over the Bill begins.

"I think it's important we have this debate and I think you'll find that as we do, there will be a few people who decide that they do want to support it," he said. 

"Just as the Prime Minister said, they have no commitment either way to a certain point."

Potaka said Seymour was entitled to his views.

"We've made in our commitments through the coalition agreements - we conceded to support the bill's first reading as well as Act making a concession there would be no support from the coalition Government beyond that," he said.

"Well we have no plans [to revisit the treaty], we never had plans to rewrite the treaty - it stands for itself and it's a foundational document for our country. It's critical, and foundational for our country's past, present and future."

Others hold the view that the bill could be a missed opportunity. Political commentator Grant Duncan explained that National has claimed that, with proper long-term consultation, such a bill could be beneficial.

He said it could stop the issue from festering away for the next generations.

A leaked paper from the Ministry of Justice said the coalition Government’s proposed legislation to define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi could be “highly contentious”.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi posted an image of one page of the document to social media early this morning, encouraging his followers to let the document “fuel ... our fire”, a reference to his party’s opposition to several Māori-focused policies of the new Government.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed to the Herald that the ministry would investigate the leak. He said the document was a draft that had not yet been considered by the Cabinet.