Clark wants Treaty claims settled

The Government will set a deadline for lodging historical Treaty of Waitangi claims and aim to settle them within 10 to 15 years, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.

She would not speculate on a date, but said it would be in Labour's manifesto for this year's general election.

"The time has come to seek finality," she told delegates at Labour's congress in Wellington.

"Much of Maoridom, like most of the rest of us, look forward to the potential of the future and it is easier to move on as the past is addressed."

Her commitment brings the Government's treaty settlement policy closer to National's, which is to settle all claims by 2010.

Miss Clark later told reporters the closure date for lodging claims would be in the party's manifesto because she believed it was an important issue.

"We've made it a hallmark of our government not to take people by surprise," she said.

"I won't speculate now on the date. The important thing is that with the historic treaty claims process having gone on for 20 years, it's very close to time when everything can be submitted and then we move to complete settlements with those who wish to settle."

Miss Clark said her Maori MPs were "very positive" about the Government's intention.

"What I've focused on is the finality for lodging," she said.

"For those who wish to settle, we've always said we're budgeting for somewhere within the 10 to 15 year time frame."

In her speech to the congress, which opened yesterday and closes tomorrow, Miss Clark dealt with the Government's record, what it was aiming to achieve in the future and the need for candidates and activists not to take its current popularity for granted.

She said the election would be held "at a date to be determined - I'm not going to tell you today" and was equally reticent when she spoke to reporters.

"I haven't set the election date," she said.

"I'm looking at a budget on May 19 and then an orderly run through to the election. You won't get anything more specific from me than that."

In her speech to about 600 delegates and all the party's candidates, she said she was going into the election "full of optimism" about the Government's prospects and New Zealand's prospects.

"Have we got everything right? No, not always but we've given it our best shot and we learn from our mistakes," she said.

"Is New Zealand a better place because of our efforts? I believe it is, but I can see much more that needs to be done."

Outside Wellington Town Hall, the conference venue, about 40 noisy demonstrators from several different organisations voiced their opinions of the Government.

The Alliance Party was demanding free education, a group of environmentalists was appalled at the prospect of genetic engineering, the National Front claimed New Zealand had become a puppet of the United Nations, and one woman complained loudly about patriarchal government.

Police kept them clear of the doors, and they could not be heard inside the building.

- NZPA