Dangers In Appeal To Human Rights Committee

Wednesday 12 May 2004 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

ACT New Zealand Justice and Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today warned that Ngai Tahu involving the UN Human Rights Committee in New Zealand affairs could bring forward the day when New Zealanders have the courage to tell such international bodies to butt out permanently.

"This is not because Ngai Tahu's concern is unwarranted. The committee may well uphold the claim on sound grounds," Mr Franks said.

"But New Zealanders shouldn't tolerate representatives of countries with little - if any - genuine respect for human rights interfering in our affairs. The unelected judges making law have already done enough damage to our race relations.

"The seabed and foreshore issue is one that should be decided upon by the New Zealand people and their elected representatives.

"The indigenous rights rhetoric employed in hypocritical UN bodies only has scope here because parties other than ACT have fostered a view of New Zealanders as separate peoples.

"When ACT restores colour-blindness to New Zealand law, there should be no scope for people to call for UN intervention," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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