Media Release
Monday, April 19, 2004

Treaty Education Should Await Commission

New Zealand First says the Treaty of Waitangi “education” programme should have been suspended because of the planned commission of inquiry into the Treaty and its relevance to modern society.

Education spokesperson Brian Donnelly said today that there was a risk the programme launched today was Labour’s version of the events surrounding the Treaty and as such could be viewed as political propaganda.

“New Zealand First is working with the Government on the terms of reference for an inquiry and who should be members of it. The commission’s work should not be jeopardised by Treaty stories created by spin doctors.

“All Treaty issues, and the different viewpoints, should be aired and discussed publicly rather than being restricted to a one-sided version in circulation.”

Mr Donnelly said that the Government had been placed in a difficult situation because of events that have overtaken the original plan for the Treaty education programme.

“New Zealanders are clearly unhappy with the events of the past twenty years during which time all sorts of ill-defined principles have crept into the Treaty, creating a gravy train for some and confusion for everyone else,” said Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

© Scoop Media