Labour to try chewing gum on Treaty

Stephen Franks Thursday, 4 August 2005 Press Releases - Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

From the warm-up reports Labour's time limits for Treaty claims will attract the same derision as their "packet of chewing gum in 2008" budget tax cut, ACT Maori Affairs spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"They really believe Kiwis are stupid. After years howling "racist" at ACT for even suggesting time limits, they now pretend to want them, but so distant and so vague they mean nothing.

"ACT lead with Derek Quigley's Bill in 1998 to set a time limit for dealing with all claims by 2008. Labour howled with rage and National scoffed. National bewailed ACT's challenge to the cosy two-party consensus that had kept the Treaty industry above "the games of party politics". They said "deadlines carved in stone will not work. They are a falsehood" and added that all claims would be dealt with by 2005.

"Labour now bravely says that they will "aim" to deal with historical claims by 2020. National says 2010. New Zealand First says whatever Grey Power wants to hear. All of them use enough waffle to leave the marae confident that none of the deadlines will mean anything.

"Labour just wants to hose down talk about the grievance industry. Labour should be asked what they will do about fanciful contemporary claims (for things happening after 1992). For example why not simply reject WAI 262 - the claim to ownership of native plants and animals.

"There is nothing complicated about re-establishing a colour-blind law for all New Zealanders. Just remove all race privileges. The Treaty should have no legal influence after the claims for historical breaches of property rights have been settled, provided there is current respect for property rights.

"Article 2 is being breached every day. The RMA denies the straightforward English law right to exclusive and undisturbed use Labour to try chewing gum on Treaty

ENDS

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