Act backs itself as champion of 'one law for all'

Act leader Rodney Hide is blamed for his party's low polling. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Act is championing itself as the only party backing "one law for all", as leader Rodney Hide comes under pressure because of the party's low polling and lack of a strong identity.

MPs Heather Roy and Sir Roger Douglas challenged the party during its annual conference in Wellington at the weekend to be more than just an appendix to National, which they criticised as lacking the courage to make bolder and more radical economic reforms.

To conference applause, former Act deputy leader Muriel Newman attacked National and its relationship with the Maori Party, saying they had damaged race relations "almost more than anyone else has ever done".

"Instead of promoting one law for all, which I used to think was National's campaign pledge as well as Act's, we are increasingly seeing them promoting Maori privilege."

Dr Newman highlighted issues including the Maori seats in Parliament, trying to get the same for the Auckland Super City, and Treaty of Waitangi principles used in legislation.

"And now we've got Whanau Ora, this thing that is going to cost $1 billion, which seems to be underpinned by racist policies.

"Many voters feel totally betrayed by National and what they are doing."

Dr Newman challenged Act to make "one law for all" the defining brand of the party.

Mr Hide said his party was already doing that. He had threatened to resign over having Maori seats on the new Auckland Council, and Act vehemently opposed the Emissions Trading Scheme.

"What offended us was the reference to the obscure and unclear principles of the Treaty, which National had made a big play on in 2005 and then, blow me down, passing legislation with the principles in it."

Mr Hide said he would keep a close eye on Whanau Ora, the Government's and the Maori Party's social services policy, to ensure it was not racially biased.

But when asked about a comment over whether all funding promoting Maori language should be abolished, Mr Hide was more diplomatic, saying he encouraged debate on all issues.

During the education discussions, Act Party member Louis Crimp said teaching Maori language in schools had no practical value, and corporal punishment should make a return to maintain classroom discipline.

Mrs Roy, who headed the session, moved quickly to disarm Mr Crimp, saying that under Act's policy of school choice, he could choose not to send his children to a school that taught Maori.