Outgoing National MP warns Treaty bill inspired 'strong' negative opinions from voters

Banks Peninsula's outgoing National MP says the party's support for the Treaty Principles Bill made some voters hate them. 

National voted for the ACT-proposed bill at first reading, as part of its coalition agreement. 

It led to the biggest protest hikoi to Parliament in history, even though the bill didn't have the numbers to succeed. 

Vanessa Weenink, who lost her seat on Saturday, says MPs underestimated the harm it caused. 

"I had strong opinions expressed by people around the Treaty Principles Bill - most people strongly hating the fact that we had to do that compromise that was done." 

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