Media Release

18 September 2003

Greens Reject Their Maori Policy By Supporting Supreme Court Bill

The Greens have turned their back on their own Maori policy in supporting Labour over the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council, said Dail Jones, justice spokesperson for New Zealand First.

In the House on 17 December 2002 Nandor Tanczos, set out certain conditions for support of the Supreme Court Bill, which have not been met. He said: “We are guided by our policy, which states that removing the Privy Council Appeal Rights, or any move to a Republic, would need to be proceeded by full dialogue, between the Tiriti partners to agree on how the Tiriti relationship would be given any effect to any new arrangements.”

Mr Jones pointed out that the overwhelming attitude of the Maori people was to oppose the Bill in their support for the continuation of rights of appeal to the Privy Council.

“Again, in the same speech, Nandor Tanczos said: ‘The Select Committee should look at the possibility of holding hearings on marae for example......It would be useful to do the same here, because this is an issue of constitutional importance.’

“Despite my efforts to have meetings on Marae, this was never achieved and I received no support from the Greens for my proposals,” said Mr Jones.

“The Greens have no regard for the views of Maori despite their clear policy on this matter repeated in the House on 17 December 2002.

“Is it just coincidence that the Government is supporting many of the principles of Nandor Tannczos’ Private Member’s Clean Slate Bill, in its own Clean Slate legislation?” asked Mr Jones.

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