Seymour Attacks Iwi Agreements | Christchurch News

Christchurch News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 17, 2026 · 1m

Acting PM David Seymour is pushing hard to scrap existing iwi participation agreements, calling them “fundamentally undemocratic” and arguing they give disproportionate influence over local planning — a move he says undermines New Zealand’s shared national interest. As the government drafts a new Resource Management Act, Environment Canterbury quietly dropped a similar deal with Ngāi Tahu amid backlash. Seymour also announced plans to dismantle the Māori Health Authority and overhaul the Three Waters program, defending the failed Treaty Principles Bill as a necessary step toward equality. He…