Clark gets gentle rap over the knuckles

By AUDREY YOUNG political editor

Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Government received an old-fashioned telling-off during a powhiri at the annual Ratana Church celebrations yesterday.

But nothing that would appear to threaten Labour's strong relationship with the influential movement, which celebrates the birthday of its founder, T. W. Ratana, each January.

In an indirect reference to the foreshore and seabed issue, one speaker, Tame Te Maro, of Ngati Porou, said rebel MPs Tariana Turia and Nanaia Mahuta had more guts than their male colleagues (according to an interpretation by Ruia Mai Maori language news agency).

Church general secretary Waka Paama suggested that the Government look to the spirit of the church for guidance, in light of the abrogation of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Before giving her speech, Helen Clark crossed the paepae and sat among the hosts, signifying it had become "my marae as well".

She said the complex, difficult and often distressing foreshore and seabed issues had put the nation "on a steep learning curve".

The Government's proposal announced last month did not involve "extinguishment", but an enhancement of customary rights through new procedures, she said.

Without a solution, there would be a lot of legal bills and uncertainty for Maori and Pakeha as rights were pursued through common law.

Helen Clark said that no claim under the Treaty would be affected by the regime being proposed.

"What we want is a win-win, respecting customary rights and the public's right of access. And I think with goodwill we can get there."