A former politician is questioning a call to include the Treaty of Waitangi in the Oath of Citizenship.
A petition has been launched calling for new citizens to pledge allegiance to Tangata Whenua and the Crown.
The Minister of Internal Affairs is being urged to amend the oath, recognising the Treaty as New Zealand's founding document.
But former National leader Don Brash says it's not that straight forward.
"If it implies it was a partnership between Māori and the Crown then certainly I would strongly oppose it because there was no such partnership created," he says.
Advocates for the change say it would encourage new citizens to learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and it would be a step towards achieving full recognition of Māori rights.
But Mr Brash says some of the facts don't add up.
"Māori have been left out of the conversation about immigration - but that too is a nonsense," he says.
"Māori have been consulted in exactly the same way as all other New Zealanders."
Newshub.
