Treaty Time Limits - Let's Look Forward, Not Back

Wednesday 21 Jul 2004

Rodney Hide - Press Releases - Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

ACT New Zealand Leader Rodney Hide today said it was good news that the Government was considering time limits for lodging historical Treaty claims and tighter targets for settling claims.

"Without mandated time limits, the Treaty grievance industry will go on forever. The only beneficiaries will be Treaty lawyers and Treaty consultants," Mr Hide said.

"Mandated cut-off dates would put finality into the Treaty settlement process. The cut-off dates should include the dis-establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal.

"The only shame is that Treaty Negotiations Minister Margaret Wilson is only now thinking about time limits. Just a month ago she voted against sending my Bill setting out time limits to a Select Committee. It would have been better if the Government had at least sent that Bill to Select Committee so that the public could be having their say right now.

"Still, it's good news that Ms Wilson has changed her mind.

"To prosper we need to look forward, not backwards," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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