A new 1News Verian poll shows a slim majority of people, around 52%, are not confident in their understanding of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
The poll, which ran from February 10 to 14, asked 1002 eligible voters: "How well do you understand the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi?"
Of the respondents, 40% said "not that well", 10% said "not at all well" and 2% did not know or refused to answer.
Meanwhile, just 12% responded "very well", but 36% said "well".
Those groups of eligible voters who are more likely than average to say they didn't understand the principles well were Canterbury residents, National Party supporters and non-university graduates.
Those groups of eligible voters who are more likely than average to say they understand the principles well were Green Party supporters, Māori, Pacific peoples, university graduates, people aged 30 to 39 years, and those with a household income of $150,000 and over.
It comes as the Government faces a divisive debate over ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, which seeks to redefine the principles.
Party leader and Associate Justice Minister David Seymour, who is shepherding the bill through Parliament, said he believed he had a "pretty good" understanding of the principles.
David Seymour is still hopeful PM Christopher Luxon and the National Party will eventually come to support his bill. (Source: 1News)
Seymour was asked whether he believed more education was needed about the principles.
"We're always learning. We're always reading. For 40 years, the Treaty principles have been important to New Zealand, but they've always been decided behind closed doors," he said.
"Having a public discussion is the best way to ease the tension that's been created."
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawriti Waititi said more people needed to have a better understanding of the Treaty itself.
"What we should've done was the referendum on more education around te Tiriti o Waitangi — to have an understanding of what actually is the constitutional document that founded this country," Waititi said.
"If you go to America, they're talking about their constitution all the time — right in pre-school through to universities."
He also said Kiwis should know about the distinction between understanding the principles versus the articles of te Tiriti itself.
The ACT Party leader said he expects his coalition partners will support the bill if it receives public support. (Source: 1News)
Seymour said he didn't believe the "tension created by the previous government" was a reason not to discuss the Treaty.
"In fact, talking about it is only going to solve the problem."
He said the bill had not created tension but may have revealed tension "created by the previous government's policies".
Seymour said the reaction to his bill had been "overwhelmingly positive".
"There's been a relatively small and vocal minority who believe all sorts of incorrect things about [the bill]. For example, some people think it rewrites the Treaty itself. It does not, I could understand why people would be angry if they thought that, except that it just ain't true.
"We are seeking to get some public clarity and understanding around the Treaty principles."
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