National labels Maori review a sham

"Internal navel gazing will not satisfy the public demand for changes to the way Labour's Maori policies and programmes are delivered," says National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

"It's a sham," he says in response to announcements from the Government on the terms of reference for an inquiry into the delivery of its race-based programmes.

"In many cases, the same bureaucrats who will be writing the reports are the ones responsible for putting those policies in place.

"It will also conveniently skirt around critical issues surrounding the meaning of the so-called 'Principles of the Treaty', which many New Zealanders are now questioning.

"Helen Clark wants to push that issue off the agenda until after the next election and pass the buck to a politically appointed commission of the great and the good.

"It's clear for his part that Trevor Mallard is expecting only one outcome.

"He's been reported as saying 'the objective of the review is to give ministers and the public assurance that policy is being delivered on the basis of need'.

"He is saying the objective is to provide an 'assurance'. It's hard to see how that sets the scene for a thorough and objective review.

"National believes the public should be allowed to make up their own minds on this Government's track record with Maori issues, through a general election," Mr Brownlee says.

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