Government, not the Chinese, is what's worrying Maori

Anti-immigration sentiment among some Maori springs from fear that a multicultural society will be used as an excuse to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi.

That was the message from Colin Knox, an experienced administrator and former chief executive of the Auckland Regional Council.

As director of Te Wananga o Raukawa, he lectures in Maori governance and organisation management for communally owned ventures.

Mr Knox told the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Banana conference that Maori had nothing against the Chinese.

"The relationship between the Maori and the Chinese has never been problematic. The concern that Maori have is that the Government will use the growing multicultural population as an excuse not to uphold the treaty."

Despite historical misdeeds, the promise of the treaty had never been surrendered, he said.

Massey University Professor Paul Spoonley, in his keynote address, said there was frustration from both sides. "Maori feel that they have little say or influence over immigration policy and they are wary of multiculturalism as being a way of sidelining biculturalism.

"My own experience suggests that as far as Maori are concerned, they would welcome an opportunity to discuss these issues directly. It seems that this is a conversation which ought to take place more widely."