Gerry Brownlee MP National Party Maori Affairs Spokesman

07 June 2005

What's Trev been doing for the past year?

National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee is stunned that Trevor Mallard has so readily admitted his lack of progress on the Helen Clark-ordered review of race relations.

Asked in Parliament today if he had any idea how much taxpayer money had been spent 'educating' New Zealanders on the Treaty of Waitangi, Mr Mallard replied 'no'.

"You'd think anyone charged with unwinding the Labour Government's racially divisive agenda would have asked officials at some stage to tell him how much money is being spent 'educating' Kiwis about the Treaty.

"This is further evidence that Mr Mallard's 'helicopter review' was a sham designed to head off public anger over Labour's demonstrated double standard on Maori issues.

"Nothing has changed, in spite of Labour's claims to the contrary.

"Also of interest was Mr Mallard's claim today that he knew nothing of advertisements for a new electorate secretary in his office who was required to have Treaty knowledge.

"What has the Race Relations Minister been doing with his days? He doesn't even know what's going on in his own office.

"Only National can be trusted to deliver policies based on need rather than race. And only National can be trusted to set deadlines for lodging and settling Treaty of Waitangi claims so New Zealand can look forward together, rather than backwards divided," says Mr Brownlee.

ENDS

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