Luxon and Seymour: Be brave, face the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti

We've got to talk about the most significant story of today and the week: the hīkoi to Parliament.

After over a week or so of people on the roads traversing the country to reach Parliament, the day has finally come. And get this: up to 30,000 people are expected to descend on Parliament in protest against the Government's particular bill, the Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading last week.

Of course, this is a momentous occasion, and I've already said it. Still, I will repeat it: This will undoubtedly be one of the biggest moments in our political history of my lifetime so far.

I'm calling it as if it's my generation's version of the foreshore and seabed hīkoi during the Helen Clark era.

And you can feel that sentiment, the anger, and the heartbreak towards the Treaty Principles Bill here in Wellington this morning during my commute into the office.

You could see people up at the crack of dawn early, carrying their flags and signs, and rightfully so, doing their democratic duty to fight back against what they believe to be wrong. That's the Treaty Principles Bill, of course, instigated by ACT Party leader David Seymour.

It is a momentous occasion: thousands of people are set to descend on Parliament. Here is the kicker, here is the challenge, or perhaps Will's wero to our politicians, particularly to David Seymour and to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Be brave enough to front the crowd today. Be courageous enough to look them in the eye. And be brave enough to make perhaps your position clear.

We've heard from Christopher Luxon time and time again that he does not support the Bill. He had to go through with it because of the coalition agreement. Well, Prime Minister, the challenge here is go to the people this morning, speak to them, give them the decency … they've come all this way, it's only suitable for you to show up, and it's only right for you to defend your position, do it.

And to ACT party leader David Seymour as well, face the crowd today because people are rightfully saddened by this bill. They feel threatened by it. It has opened up a can of worms that not even I thought could be so divisive. The country is literally fractured because of this bill. There's no other way to put it.

And I must concede myself: I was not expecting it to end up like this, yet we're in this situation. And for what?

As I said last week, social cohesion is at an all-time low in this country.

The last thing we need is this fiery debate on our founding document. Perhaps we should do what the majority feels we should do and just leave it alone.

So, to Luxon and Seymour today, good luck. You're going to need it. That’s Will's Word.

Watch the full Will's Word video below