Gerry Brownlee MP
National Party Maori Affairs Spokesman

10 February 2004

Is it the end of the line for the Treaty gravy train?

"There must be one law for all New Zealanders regardless of race, and National will be pleased to support Winston Peters' Treaty principles bill to select committee," says National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

"At Orewa last year, Don Brash signalled National's intention to remove divisive race-based clauses from legislation.

"We're delighted that Parliament now has the opportunity to discuss the 'principles', which are scattered like confetti through our statutes.

"This bill will expose the Labour Party's duplicit dealings with the public over Treaty matters and the ineptitude of Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard who has refused to get on top of this problem. "Only at the weekend, the Deputy Prime Minister repeated Labour's view that it sees no end in sight to the Treaty grievance process.

"National expects all historical Treaty claims to be filed by the end of 2006, with 2010 the deadline for settlements.

"New Zealand cannot move ahead if it is constantly looking in the rear vision mirror. Labour continues to inject the 'principles' into our laws, even though it can't tell us what they actually mean.

"Only National can deliver real change," says Mr Brownlee.

Ends

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