NZ gives hope in race relations

New Zealand's race relations commissioner says New Zealand gives a "face of hope" to the world in race relations, and warns the Government that it must not let that slide backwards amid a fiery race debate.

Joris de Bres, speaking at the Public Law Centre yesterday, said while it had its problems, New Zealand had done "a damn sight more" than many other countries in dealing with race relations - and must continue.

"This is about hope ... In many ways, New Zealand presents a face of hope to the world about race relations, and what a terrible thing if we cease to do that."

Mr de Bres urged the Government not to abandon its race-based and positive discrimination action policies, currently under review after a public backlash.

"If it's a review that is simply trying to shut things down it would be a pity, because I think it's very important to affirm that these are internationally recognised and legitimised techniques to bring people up to a level of equality, rather than in any way to privilege a particular race."

National Party leader Don Brash surged in the polls after a speech warning that New Zealand was drifting towards racial separatism with policies giving special privileges to Maori.

But Mr de Bres said such policies brought just the opposite.

"Most of the signs point to our increasing togetherness rather than to our increasing separation," he said, citing multicultural schools and intermarriage.

New Zealand was obliged to use "special and concrete measures" to bring equality to Maori and other disadvantaged ethnic groups under the United Nation's International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), he said.

That meant race-based affirmative action schemes were not only legitimate, but obligatory.

But such measures should be temporary - until the objectives had been reached - and well explained.

Mr de Bres said it would be wrong to conclude there was a "general public slide into racial prejudice" as a result of evident anger and frustration among both Maori and Pakeha following Dr Brash's Orewa speech.

While the public debate and a recent UMR survey showed the state of race relations was the biggest worry for New Zealanders, there were many examples of people speaking out against discrimination - for example after a Maori woman was barred from a pub because she had a moko, he said.

However, it was unfortunate in some areas the debate had degenerated into name-calling, labelling and stereotyping, turning Maori into a "political football".

The Government must allow enough time to gather broad views on its proposed planned foreshore and treaty legislation - including those of the Waitangi Tribunal.

The tribunal recently criticised the proposal, which stops courts granting title to the foreshore and seabed, as being in breach of the treaty.

The commissioner also said he believed the Treaty of Waitangi was relevant today, as a basis for an ongoing "good faith" relationship between Maori and the Government.

"It does not give Maori a veto over Government decisions, but requires a genuine effort by both parties to have regard to the others' interests."

The United Nations identified in 2002 concerns about continuing disadvantages to Maori, Pacific Island and ethnic communities in New Zealand - and asked the Government to consider a race relations "action plan".

New Zealand was due to report on its progress next year, Mr de Bres said.

- NZPA