Bill English flags Maori seat u-turn

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

National leader Bill English has indicated his party may be ready to withdraw its support for Maori seats in Parliament to better fit with its theme of one standard of citizenship for all New Zealanders.

In his first political speech of the year, Mr English strengthened his branding of National as a party opposed to policies that gave Maori special treatment and promoted segregation.

The speech hinted National might do a u-turn on its previous stance that Maori seats in Parliament should stay until Maori no longer wanted them.

Mr English told a small crowd gathered at the Channel View Lounge in Takapuna, on Auckland's North Shore, that things had moved a long way since 1986, when a Royal Commission on the Electoral System found Maori saw the special seats as an expression of their status under the treaty.

He said Maori representation no longer depended on Maori seats. There were now more Maori than ever in Parliament and they were more broadly spread across several political parties. Most were elected on their own merit because the Maori vote was so large.

National campaigned against local government legislation last year that gave councils the right to reserve seats on territorial authorities for Maori representatives.

In his speech, Mr English said he was concerned the Government had extended the right to Maori seats in Parliament to local government.

His party was also concerned about the impact of a "taniwha" clause in the legislation that required councils to take account of Maori spirituality but not the beliefs of other New Zealanders.

Mr English told the Herald last night that the issue of Maori seats was just part of a larger puzzle.

He was simply looking to open debate about the issues raised in his speech, rather than signalling specific policy changes.

National Maori Affairs spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu said she did not think the issue of Maori seats was of concern to most New Zealanders at the moment.

But they were interested in another key issue discussed in Mr English's speech - the importance of creating a strong economy so all New Zealanders would benefit.

Asked if she felt comfortable with the tone of her leader's speech, Ms te Heuheu said her personal thoughts did not matter because she was part of a team.

Mr English accused the Government of creating a bicultural nation by writing the Treaty of Waitangi into every institution, law and Government policy.

Instead of using the resolution of treaty claims to end division, Labour had opened a new book of contemporary distinctions between New Zealanders on the basis of ethnicity.

"Constitutional experiments with the Treaty of Waitangi must be halted," he said. "The culture of cringing political correctness must end."

Mr English accused the Government of bribing Maori voters with cash handouts. He said Te Puni Kokiri officials were driving round the country writing out cheques to Maori organisations.

"It's nothing more than a protection racket to keep Labour in power."

A spokesman for the Prime Minister described Mr English's speech as a "pack of slogans".