Richard Worth National Justice Spokesman

21 July 2003

No case for Maori Law Commission

Government dithering on Maori issues is behind the weekend call for an separate Maori Law Commission, which would only drive New Zealand further down the road of division, says National's Justice spokesman Richard Worth.

"I believe that the place to debate constitutional change is Parliament, and there is no case for a separate Maori Law Commission," he says.

"New Zealanders simply won't accept two standards of justice, there should be one standard of citizenship for all.

"I do understand though that Maori have every reason to try and make a case, because the Labour Government has allowed expectations to rise."

Mr Worth says the time has come for Maori to step back from calls for excessive empowerment and target the Government for failing to address the real problems facing Maori in health, education and law and order.

"The present claims are a distraction from these much more critical issues.

"Unless the Government moves to deal decisively with Maori issues and calls a halt to increasing separatism, a legacy will be created for future governments that will be impossible to untangle," says Mr Worth.

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