Hon Christopher Finlayson
National Party
Spokesman for Treaty Negotiations

8 November 2011

Keeping up momentum in Treaty settlements

National will maintain the increased momentum of the past three years in reaching full and final settlements of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, National Party Treaty Negotiations spokesman Christopher Finlayson said today.

“In the past three years, we have reached over 100 milestones towards the just and durable settlement of the remaining historical Treaty claims, including signing 21 deeds of settlement with iwi,” Mr Finlayson says. “In contrast, despite over nine years in government, Labour completed, on average, less than two per year.”

“National has an aspirational goal of settling claims by 2014. Under the previous government, settling the same claims was projected to take well into the next decade.”

National has worked towards this by providing high-level political leadership, such as establishing a Treaty of Waitangi Cabinet Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, and providing appropriate resourcing for the Office of Treaty Settlements.

“This renewed vigour and commitment has led to the outstanding progress of the last three years,” Mr Finlayson says. “National’s Treaty negotiations policy confirms we will continue the annual Kokiri Ngatahi settlements hui started in 2009, and continue using Chief Crown negotiators with the appropriate mana and experience to advance negotiations.

“Treaty settlements provide redress for the wrongs of the past and put the grievances of the past behind us,” Mr Finlayson says. “They also provide an economic stimulus and boost local investment, employment and economic prosperity in the regions.”

Visit the policy here.

ENDS

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