Monday, 11 October 2004

Public backs constitutional inquiry

United Future leader, Peter Dunne, a long-time proponent of an inquiry into New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements, says he’s delighted to see the latest poll confirms the public agrees with him.

The TV3 - TNS poll asked a thousand voters if they agreed whether a constitutional inquiry into the Treaty of Waitangi is needed or not.

Mr Dunne said “55% thought an inquiry was needed, 37% did not, with 8% undecided.

“National voters were 51% - 44% in favour and Labour voters were 57% - 35% in favour.

“This confirms my view that New Zealanders are looking for a sense of identity, of nationhood, and a strong, clear and well-defined set of constitutional arrangements is an essential part of that.

“The inquiry I have been seeking, and am still in discussions with the Government about, is more than just a look at the role the Treaty of Waitangi plays in New Zealand.

“I believe we must stop tinkering around the edges of these important issues and I am encouraged to see the public agrees,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>