David Seymour’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill has faced a fair bit of opposition since its introduction. 

The ACT Leader says it comes from two main camps, and in his opinion, it reinforces the need for a debate around the Treaty of Waitangi and its application. 

He told Tim Beveridge that the debate has shifted to the point where it’s not about race or the Treaty, but rather about whether New Zealand is a society that gives respect and dignity to each person, or whether it’s some “backwards-looking tribal place” where people have to say their race before their ideas are heard.  

Seymour believes the presentation of the bill by the media is “pretty hopeless”. 

He says there was one interview on TV1 where they gave more time to the protestors that interrupted his interview, than they did him. 

“It’s pretty difficult not to despair with the standards of media coverage.” 

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