Sir John Key says he doesn't support the Government's controversial Treaty Principles Bill.

It comes after calls from the former Prime Minster for the temperature to be turned down on race relations.

The bill, championed by ACT, seeks to formally define the principals of the Treaty of Waitangi, but has been met with strong opposition.

Key says not only has the bill 'wound people up' but he also thinks it wouldn't work.

"I actually think philosophically it's bad policy. I'll tell you why I think it's bad - if you write down the principles, if you think they're going to stay like that, you're a dreamer."

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