KEY POINTS:
A national statement on race relations was launched by the Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday at the Diversity Forum in Auckland, after a flight delay prevented her from doing so on Monday.
The statement, which has been described as a landmark document on race relations, hopes to find common ground among New Zealanders.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said: "It is an important document, to give us a checklist of issues if you like, for us to measure and monitor the state of our relations."
The issues include the Treaty of Waitangi, freedom from discrimination, freedom of expression, safety, participation, equal opportunities, newcomers, education for diversity and cultural identity.
The statement acknowledged that the foundations for racial equality in New Zealand were laid at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between representatives of Maori and the Crown.
"The Treaty is a work in progress which recognises the rights of not just Maori and Pakeha, but the rights of all others who subsequently settled in New Zealand," said Mr de Bres.
He said the statement would become a "starting point" for schools and communities to "hold conversations on race relations".
Meanwhile, representatives from National and Labour speaking at the conference were not giving away anything new in terms of policy if either party won the next election.
National MP Judith Collins told the Herald "I am not here to announce any new policy" and Mark Goshe, speaking for Labour, addressed mainly the party's past record.
"At the beginning of our nine years of Government, we confronted some pretty harsh facts ... we have worked hard in the Treaty settlement area with seven settlement acts completed and we now have a target of September 1 for historic claims to be lodged," Mr Goshe said.
He said the Government under Labour has put a lot of money into funding initiatives to help better the lives of people in New Zealand's diverse communities.
"The much valued but under-resourced Maori wardens received $17 million in the recent budget, there's $12 million funding over the next four years for Maori nurses and we are investing $21.2 million over the next four years in the Auckland Metropolitan Migrant and Refugee Strategy designed to assist people into work and have better access to government services."
Ms Collins said under a National-led Government, Maori and ethnic minorities would have representatives in Parliament who understood and reflected their needs.
"On current polling, we are hopeful of having at least three MPs born in Asia, Pansy Wong, Kanwal Singh Bakshi and Melissa Lee. Maori well placed on our list in very winnable seats are Georgina Te Heuheu, Tau Henare, Hekia Parata, Paul Quinn, Paula Bennett and Simon Bridges."
Mr de Bres says unlike previous elections, he does not see race relations becoming a major election issue this year.
"There's more talk about tax and crime, and ... there's more cross-party commitment to diversity," he said.
