Trevor Mallard accepts failure on Treaty principles

“Trevor Mallard’s all but admitted defeat on Labour’s promise to sort out the mess created by the principles of the Treaty,” says National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

“Last year, Mr Mallard was talking tough on this stuff, this year, he’s passing the buck to CEOs.”

Mr Brownlee is commenting in the wake of Mr Mallard’s confusing answers to questions about the principles of the Treaty as they are being applied in his own office and in other Government departments.

“First a spokeswoman from his office said ‘knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi is not a requirement or condition of employment in the public sector.’ Later Mr Mallard changed his story saying ‘individual contractual arrangements are nothing to do with the minister, they are ultimately the responsibility of chief executives’.

“It has been a year since Labour, particularly Helen Clark and Trevor Mallard, promised to crack down on the vague Treaty principles.

“Now the Minister charged with fixing the problem is telling us it’s not his responsibility, and he is passing the parcel to the CEOs that are simply implementing Labour’s policy.

“The next National Government won’t require public servants to subscribe to a particular view of the Treaty. Only National can be trusted to deliver policies based on need not race,” says Mr Brownlee.

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