National Party's leader backs 'one rule for all'

By AUDREY YOUNG

National leader Bill English is expected to take a hard line on Treaty of Waitangi legislation in a speech today billed as his most important since the election.

The speech at the Wellington Club is entitled One Standard of citizenship for All, One Rule for All.

Mr English is expected to renew opposition to the treaty clauses in the Local Government Bill, expected to be passed before Christmas.

The bill extends the business powers of local authorities, but it also requires councils to "recognise and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi" and to improve opportunities for Maori to contribute to decision making.

Like other pieces of legislation, it does not define the principles of the treaty. The bill also requires councils to consider ways to foster "the development of Maori capacity to contribute to the local authority's decision-making".

A local authority, in making significant decisions related to land and water, must consider the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral land, water, sites, waahi tapu (sacred places), valued flora and fauna and other taonga.