Treaty doesn't mean partnership, says Brash

Don Brash

The Treaty of Waitangi does not create a partnership with a separate people, National's leader Don Brash said today.

Dr Brash has returned to race relations as a key issue for his party as the election approaches, and yesterday gave a speech in Whangarei similar to the one he delivered in Orewa early last year.

The Orewa speech gave National a big boost in the polls, and Dr Brash is hoping he can create that impact again.

He is now being accused of running a negative agenda and wanting to knock back Maori, but Dr Brash denied that today.

He said the treaty was a fundamental document that said every New Zealander had to be treated equally.

Dr Brash said he based his case on article three of the treaty, which said every New Zealander had the rights and privileges of British subjects.

"I do not think it creates a partnership. I do not think it creates a separate people with whom the Crown has to negotiate stuff," he said on National Radio.

"Every New Zealander has a right to be consulted when their rights are affected, but it's totally unclear from the treaty whether Maori have different rights from others."

Dr Brash's interpretation of the treaty, and National's bottom-line policy to abolish the Maori seats in Parliament, has ruled out any post-election deal with the Maori Party.

Maori Party candidate Hone Harawira yesterday likened National's policies with those of Hitler.

"Hitler had plans for Jews. Pauline Hanson had similar plans for the Aboriginal people of Australia. Don Brash wants Maori to be subsumed within the larger culture of this country and to become 'one people'," he said.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said Dr Brash's speech was the last straw.

"Our people have just become sick to death of this whole Maori-bashing attitude from Dr Brash," she said.

"His further foray against the treaty has just triggered a huge amount of resentment, and we've been asked not to even consider supporting them.

"That's exactly what we're going to do. We will actively work against them."

Dr Brash today reiterated National's determination to settle all treaty claims by 2010, a target Labour says is impossible.

"I'm prepared to commit whatever it takes to get this process finished," Dr Brash said.

"The interminable delay in settling treaty grievances is intolerable for New Zealanders."

Labour's Race Relations Minister, Trevor Mallard, says Maori are getting ahead under government policies and are contributing to New Zealand economically and socially.

"National just wants to knock them back."

- NZPA