David Seymour hopes a 'peaceful debate' can come out of Waitangi - in the wake of backlash to his proposed Treaty Principles Bill.

The ACT leader is being welcomed alongside the coalition at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands today.

He skipped both last month's Kingitanga's hui-a-motu and Ratana commemorations.

Iwi representatives spoke at Waitangi yesterday, expressing criticism over various Government leaders, and stances, in relation to Māori.

Seymour told Francesca Rudkin he hopes some of the rhetoric in recent days can be dialled down.

He doesn't think it's such a bad thing to have a debate on treaty principles - saying it should be welcomed as it apparently highlights the importance of the treaty.

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