Treaty Principles Bill hīkoi organiser rejects David Seymour's offer to meet

Ngāpuhi kaumātua Titewhai Harawira says she has rejected an offer to meet with ACT leader David Seymour over his Treaty Principles Bill.

The bill, which would require the government to consider the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in all of its decision-making, has been criticised by some iwi leaders, who say it is a threat to their sovereignty.

Harawira, who is leading a hikoi (walk) from the north to Wellington to protest the bill, said she does not believe Seymour is genuine in his offer to meet.

"He's just trying to use us as a political football," she said. "He doesn't really care about our concerns."

Seymour has said he is willing to meet with Harawira and other iwi leaders to discuss the bill, but Harawira said she is not interested.

"We're not going to meet with him," she said. "We're not going to give him the opportunity to use us for his own political gain."

The Treaty Principles Bill is currently before a select committee.

The committee is due to report back to Parliament by the end of the year.