Earlier, Hipkins had called the government "anti-Treaty", referring to the controversial Treaty Principles Bill that seeks to define what the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are. Hipkins said his discussions with the forum had been "constructive" but acknowledged the iwi leaders would work with whoever the government was. When asked whether the government was "anti-Māori" Luxon accepted "ACT's Treaty Principles Bill was incredibly challenging". He said despite tensions through challenges like the Treaty Principles Bill, the government had continued the conversation with iwi leaders at the same time. Iwi leader Tukoroirangi Morgan echoed that sentiment, calling the meeting "productive" and saying iwi leaders were in a position where "we need to get stuff done".
