Media Release

29 August 2005

Brash Attack Becoming Unfocused - Peters

“National’s race policy announced today is both new and true. Unfortunately what is true is not new and what is new is not true, said New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“For years New Zealand First has argued that there is a need for Government services to be based on need not race.

Unfortunately the National Party seems both confused and forgetful. On the issue of ‘Treaty Principles’, Mr Brash thinks that they are “just a result of some individuals being foolish or hopelessly misguided”. He is right! - 15 of the 39 statutes containing ‘principles’ were put there by National ministers.

“Moreover, he says “even if the settlements were finished tomorrow, the main issues surrounding the Treaty, and what they are doing to our society, would remain”. Five pages later in his speech he says that “the Office of Treaty Settlements should be able to be wound up by the end of that year”- ie. 2010. How on earth does he reconcile those two statements?

“Dr Brash refers to “a bunch of second rate educational programmes”. This begs the question, who in 1999 uncapped the Wananga funding? which I as treasurer refused to do.. Later he refers to “reading and maths vouchers” – last referred to by Ruth Richardson.

But most alarming, is the National Party’s reference in today’s New Zealand Herald to abolition of the Maori Trustee Office. The Maori Trustee is a Corporate Sole, established in 1920, with over 112,000 beneficiaries, with Maori and not taxpayer money. This outburst by Dr Brash is just one more excuse for Maori radicalism.

Why would you attack what is essentially a private trust where taxpayers’ money is not involved?

Surely someone in the National Party understands this and it is no wonder even the most conservative Maori are now becoming confused, concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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