Treaty legal aid costs double in six years

Legal aid costs for Treaty of Waitangi claims have more than doubled since 1999, Justice Minister Phil Goff said yesterday.

Answering questions in Parliament, Mr Goff said the number of treaty-related cases receiving legal aid had increased from 151 in 1999-2000 to 377 in 2003-2004.

Legal aid costs for treaty claims had risen from $3.1 million in 1999-2000 to $6.9 million in 2003-2004.