'No room for separatism in NZ,' says John Key

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Richard Robinson

Prime Minister John Key has told party faithful in the Wairarapa there is no room for separatism in New Zealand.

In defensive mode over the party's Maori policy agenda, he said: "Some of what we do in this area will, I understand, challenge you and other New Zealanders."

"And there will always be extremists in the debate who falsely characterise things in a way that may even frighten you.

"Let me be clear: there is no room for separatism in New Zealand."

Mr Key was speaking to the party's first regional conference in the lower North Island.

Both deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson yesterday acknowledged the decisions the party was making at present could be unpopular in the party.

National is supported on confidence and supply by the Maori Party.

In recent months the Government has proposed a repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act, supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, announced the roll-out of the whanau ora welfare policy and is making haste on a raft of Treaty of Waitangi settlements with iwi.

Mr Key said he did a deal with the Maori Party after the last election despite already having the numbers to govern "because I believe it is in the long-term interests of New Zealand".

"I want us to to stop looking in the rear-view mirror at grievances past, and to instead shift our eye to the challenges of our shared future as New Zealanders," he said.

He said having the Foreshore and Seabed issue "hanging over our heads is simply not constructive".

"I want to lead us down a path where these issues are settled, and we can all look to move forward together."

He was optimistic "the next phase" could be characterised by better race relations and a united sense of shared aspirations for New Zealanders.

Mr English said that on any given day over the next period, the Government was going to be involved with some decisions "that you don't like, some decisions you may disagree with".

"All those decisions are being made in the context of a longer term view, reaching our objectives over the next four or five years, not the next four or five days."

Mr Finlayson said some "mean-spririted" people did not support the treaty settlements and wanted New Zealand to "move on".

But the Government would continue with settlements to meet its election promise to have claims settled by 2014.

There would be "legitimate redress, not Crown hand-outs."