Labour’s Treaty Mullahs Creating Mistrust

“Labour’s Treaty Mullahs are breaking down New Zealand’s most important asset - the trust we have in one another,” Opposition leader Bill English said today.

Speaking at a Christchurch meeting to rally opposition to the Local Government Bill, Mr English said the Taleban outburst by Labour’s man in the Race Relations Commissioner’s job, Joris de Bres, was not an isolated example.

The expansion of “The Treaty” through the Local Government Bill into the everyday lives of homeowners is the biggest constitutional change in decades.”

“It opens the door with those with a separatists agenda and will create divisions across communities. Few New Zealanders know what’s in the Bill which will be rushed into law before Christmas.”

Plenty of lawyers have been on a gravy train arguing Treaty principles with the Crown for years. So, why pass this hot potato to local government when the Clark Government can’t even explain what the principles mean in the first place?

I say the Treaty establishes a common set of rights and obligations whatever our background. It makes us all New Zealanders. But this Bill confers rights for Maori others will not have.

The Bill provides for:

· Separate representation for Maori

· Special consultation for Maori

· All significant decisions take into account Maori special relationship with land, water flora, fauna and “taonga” which is not defined in the Bill.

“We have seen what happens when taniwha force the Crown agencies to change the route of a main highway - what will happen when councils around the country are faced with many similar problems,” says Mr English.

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