Human Rights Commission
Media Release
4 February, 2009

Extraordinary year for Treaty relationships says Commissioner

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres applauds the progress made on a range of Treaty and Treaty settlements in his annual Race Relations Review.

Mr de Bres said that 2008 had been an extraordinary year for Crown-Tangata whenua relations.

“The most significant milestone was the completion of the Central North Island forestry settlement.” The $400 million in forest assets and rentals that went to iwi resolved a long running and sometimes difficult negotiation.

“I acknowledge the work of former Treaty Settlements Minister Dr Michael Cullen who, together with key Māori leaders, gave much needed momentum to the settlement process,” he said.

Mr de Bres said it was imperative to maintain the level of progress. With the Government’s goal of completing settlement of all historical Treaty claims in six years, significant challenges lay ahead. The September 2008 cut-off date for the lodging of claims with the Waitangi Tribunal saw an unprecedented 1800 new claims presented in the 2008 year.

He also acknowledged the significance of the National Government’s agreement with the Māori Party. He welcomed the promised review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act and an across party examination of the place of the Treaty in the country’s constitutional arrangements.

Mr de Bres’ comments come from the Treaty chapter of the Race Relations Review 2008 released this week in advance of Waitangi Day, 2009 as a resource for discussion about Treaty issues. The full Race Relations Review 2008, including a review of developments in discrimination, human rights, migration and diversity will be published in early March in the lead up to Race Relations Day on 21 March.

The Treaty chapter can be downloaded from www.hrc.co.nz

ENDS