Alliance pledges treaty wrap in decade

The Alliance would settle Treaty of Waitangi claims within 10 years if elected, says deputy leader Willie Jackson.

Mr Jackson, announcing the policy yesterday in the Tainui electorate where he is standing, said inaction on the part of previous Governments had allowed a backlog of treaty claims to build up.

That, in turn, had created "misunderstanding and ill will" among many Pakeha New Zealanders.

"Previous Governments have failed to deliver on anyone's reasonable expectations for full and final settlements of outstanding treaty claims," he said.

"The mindless Maori bashing that has resulted is getting us nowhere."

The Waitangi Tribunal and Office of Treaty Settlements had been starved of vital resources and the aspirations of Maori had been forgotten, Mr Jackson said.

As well as settling claims within 10 years the Alliance would:

* Increase funding to the Waitangi Tribunal by 30 per cent of its existing $5 million budget a year for the next 10 years.

* Add 10 more members to the tribunal, with at least half appointed by Maori. The tribunal at present has 16 members.

* Establish a specialist Treaty of Waitangi Commission responsible for co-ordinating, monitoring and implementing treaty policy and research. The commission would cost about $5 million to set up.

* Have fair and responsible settlements but no fiscal cap.

* Increase the Office of Treaty Settlements' budget by $2 million a year.

Mr Jackson, who is also the Mana Motuhake party leader, said the Alliance would organise a public education programme to help all New Zealanders to understand the Treaty of Waitangi.

- NZPA

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