UN man answers back on Cullen jibe

The United Nations official behind a controversial report on the plight of Maori today said he knew more about Maori than Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen has claimed.

Dr Cullen said yesterday that UN Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen was "stunned" to discover most Maori lived in towns and cities.

He said that after being around the country, Professor Stavenhagen thought most Maori lived in isolated rural settlements.

But Prof Stavenhagen told Radio Live: "Having read about New Zealand, having had prior information, I knew perfectly well all the time that the majority of the Maori population live in urban areas.

"This is a process that has taken place over the last few generations. In fact, this one was of the first things mentioned to me by the Honourable Minister for Maori Affairs.

"I was by no means stunned about that, because that's also what's happening in other parts of the world."

Prof Stavenhagen spent nine days in the country last November, and his report to the UN Committee on Human Rights criticised the way Treaty settlements are reached and calls for the repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

Yesterday Dr Cullen questioned the standing of the UN Committee on Human Rights which sent Prof Stavenhagen to New Zealand.

It was under sustained attack within the UN and was in the process of being reformed, he said.

Dr Cullen said: "Countries with very strong human rights records tend to get reports like this, while there are countries represented on the committee with appalling human rights records."

- NZPA