Brash a beginner, says Peters

Winston Peters. File picture

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters yesterday described his National counterpart Don Brash as a "political hitchhiker."

Dr Brash, a first-term member of Parliament, already wanted to be Prime Minister.

"I couldn't become a mechanic tomorrow, could I?" Mr Peters asked Opotiki Grey Power members.

Nor could he become a carpenter or a bank manager without taking time to learn the job.

"Politics is no different."

Addressing a gathering of more than 100 people, Mr Peters could not resist the odd jibe at the National Party leader as he spoke on what New Zealand could be like without the Treaty of Waitangi.

Race relations was one issue which illustrated the void in political leadership, he said.

For years, Labour's "patronising and paternalistic" attitude to Maori had ensured they had never been able to escape the victimhood mentality that anchored their progress.

"How ironic that this approach has now resulted in the formation of a political vehicle based solely on race which seems destined to terminally fracture Labour's Maori support," said Mr Peters.

"All those years of taking the Maori vote for granted may now result in the permanent loss of a large chunk of Maori support."

But he did not foresee a long-term future for the Maori Party.

National, the other "tired old party", offered no valid alternative and its thinking was firmly wedded to the 1950s.

There was muttered assent when he spoke of vast amounts of money going on "meaningless treaty courses" within the public service.'

"Why waste hundreds of millions on bureaucrats learning how to say 'kia ora' and 'no' instead of 'hello' and 'yes'?"

The treaty should be taught as part of the history curriculum in schools but absolutely should not permeate other aspects of the public service.

He said removing that would be a key plank of New Zealand First's treaty policy to be launched next week.