Staff 'brainwashed' on Treaty

The National Party has accused Canterbury University of "brainwashing" after its library made training on the Treaty of Waitangi compulsory for staff.

The broadside by Opposition spokesman on political correctness eradication, Wayne Mapp, who was tipped off by an angry staffer, has stunned library administrators.

A two-day course on the Treaty, which started yesterday, was to be attended by around 20 people.

Mr Mapp said the course, run by Christchurch-based historian Robert Consedine, the Maori Party's highest-placed Pakeha list candidate at the last election, was like mind control.

"Thought control, some might say; brainwashing, some might say. If they are going to have a compulsory thing you would have thought at least they'd make an effort to get a balanced range of viewpoints," Mr Mapp said.

"It's precisely what I've been talking about when I talk about political correctness requiring people to think in a particular way - particularly on an issue that is at the heart of political debate."

University librarian Gail Pattie said she was aware that some staff members had been grumbling but she denied claims that disciplinary action had been threatened if staff did not attend.

"You're joking. Oh, for God's sake," she laughed.

"We have said we would like staff to attend ... so I suppose in a way you could say it's compulsory."

Ms Pattie said the library had run courses on the Treaty in the past and it was directly relevant to the work of staff dealing with Maori students and those studying history. Courses have also been run on interacting with other cultures, she said.

"He might not like that either. We haven't held a gun to anyone's head to make them go but they are strongly encouraged to do so."

A library staff member, who asked not to be identified, said one manager had told them they would be punished if they did not attend.

"We have been told by lesser managerial people that disciplinary action will follow if people refuse to attend. But we haven't had a straight answer from people at the top."

Karen Jones, a spokeswoman for the State Services Commission, said government departments, including the National Library, were instructed to offer training on the Treaty if it was deemed relevant to their work.

"It is left up to department heads," she said.

A staff member at the National Library in Wellington said of the training there: "It is over several days and is compulsory."

A librarian at Victoria University said staff there were "strongly encouraged" to attend.

Mr Mapp said there needed to be balance if the course was to be held at all.

He suggested former National Party candidate David Round, who lectures in the law faculty at the university and has written a book on the Treaty, would be a good candidate to teach it.

- NZPA