Wayne Mapp National Justice Spokesperson

16 July 2001

Political correctness gone mad at LGNZ

Calls at the Local Government New Zealand conference for broader guidelines on the Treaty of Waitangi will harm the credibility of local government, National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp said today.

"The Labour Government is venturing into dangerous Treaty activism by wanting to give local authorities even more power. Local government should not have to observe any special obligations under the Treaty.

"This is PC madness which will cost ratepayers dearly.

"Any responsibilities on the Treaty must remain with central government. Even the Resource Management Act provisions on the Treaty create enough difficulties for people developing their land. Sandra Lee should know - she messed up on the Whitianga waterways.

"Calls for increased recognition of the Treaty in local government policies are precisely why the Government's attempt to have separate Maori seats for local government is ill conceived.

"Local government is there to serve all New Zealanders equally, not to venture into the path of Parliament which has specific responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi," Dr Mapp said.

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