English repeats Treaty message at Ratana

National Party Leader Bill English has repeated his call for debate on the future of the Treaty of Waitangi at a celebration of the Ratana spiritual movement near Wanganui today.

“The National Party stands for one standard of citizenship - one rule for all,” Mr English says.

“It’s entirely appropriate I should be at Ratana to speak about this, when the movement’s leader has been quoted in the past as saying that we’re all one people - with no division.

“As I’ve already said this week, Labour don’t see the resolution of historical Treaty claims as an opportunity to close the book on some issues,” Mr English says.

“Instead, they’re opening a new book of contemporary distinctions between New Zealanders on the basis of ethnicity.

“Most New Zealanders support the concept of a common citizenship, it’s important to have open public debate about what it means to be a Kiwi.

“I’ve already challenged Helen Clark to give the rest of New Zealand her vision for the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in today’s world,” he says.

“But to date she’s refused - instead resorting to personal attacks and claims of Maori bashing.

“In the lead up to Waitangi Day, our national celebration, I’m again asking the country’s elected leader to use the next few weeks to outline the role of the Treaty in New Zealand’s future.

“And she needs to spell it for all New Zealanders, not just Maori,” Mr English says.

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