Race post angers Labour's Maori

By AUDREY YOUNG and RUTH BERRY

The appointment of a Race Relations Minister has angered Labour's Maori MPs.

And they will be further inflamed by a statement last night from the new minister, Trevor Mallard, that references in legislation to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi could be axed.

He told the Herald that such references would be removed from laws if they were "not needed or appropriate".

The surprise appointment of a minister to counter National's race-focused campaign stunned many Maori colleagues, already upset at Prime Minister Helen Clark's announcement of a wide-ranging review of Maori-targeted funding.

Last night, the Maori MPs sent an urgent deputation, led by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, to Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen to voice their concerns. Mr Mallard was also present.

Mr Horomia revealed after the 90-minute meeting that Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed was back on the table.

"There's discussions around that," he said when asked if the issue was back on the table. He said the Government was ruling nothing out until the legislation was passed.

The comment appears to raise the prospect of yet another policy reversal by the Government in its retreat from anything that will inflame Pakeha New Zealand and further erode its popularity following shock polls putting National ahead.

"Things have changed dramatically since Brash," said one MP, referring to the campaign against special funding for Maori and treaty clauses by National Party leader Don Brash.


The appointment of a new Fisheries Minister, David Benson-Pope, at the time the Maori Fisheries Bill is about to go through the House is also causing anxiety.

Mr Horomia, asked whether the Maori MPs were concerned about the failure to consult them over Mr Mallard's appointment, said: "We are concerned about a whole lot of issues.

"There are developments we have to work through with our party."

Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia was confident current programmes would not change, but was seeking assurances.

"Certainly we will be seeking assurances that what we have in place won't be affected and that future policy won't be either."

Her concerns about Mr Mallard's appointment were clear: "I don't know whether we necessarily need a Race Relations Minister."

Helen Clark yesterday described Mr Mallard's role as something of a "helicopter" one, taking an overview.

Asked if that would also involve looking at the foreshore and seabed policy, she said, "I'm sure he'll be taking an interest in it".

Mr Mallard was appointed in a reshuffle after the sacking last week of Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel.

Mr Benson-Pope, the Dunedin South MP and chief Government whip, was elevated to the Cabinet.

The other major change was Margaret Wilson's loss of the Labour portfolio to Paul Swain, who is considered more business-friendly.

But Mr Mallard's appointment is crucial, especially because he is a minister who has resisted having Treaty of Waitangi clauses inserted in the Education Act.

"I have not been supportive of it because I haven't seen a need for it," he said yesterday.

But he also said there had been an "enormous amount of mythology" over so-called special treatment for Maori.

Asked if he could see clauses being removed from legislation, he said: "If they're not needed and not appropriate, yes."

Helen Clark said she wanted Mr Mallard to get one definition across the Government and its agencies when dealing with treaty principles in legislation.

"We are looking for some greater coherence in policy here."

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