Dunne to lead 'stock-take'

United Future leader Peter Dunne was yesterday elected chairman of Parliament's constitutional arrangements select committee, which will carry out a "stock-take" of the constitution.

"Now we can get down to the serious business of reviewing New Zealand's somewhat scattered arrangements and see what improvements, if any, are needed," said Mr Dunne, who has been pushing for a royal commission on the constitution for years.

Labour, the Greens, Act and United Future are represented on the committee, but National and New Zealand First are boycotting it.

They say the inquiry is a sham designed to excuse the Government from discussing the Treaty of Waitangi before this year's general election.

Mr Dunne said the door was still open to all parties to take part in the review of New Zealand's nationhood.

"Our constitution is the property of all New Zealanders, and it is important that all of them have a say in its future development," he said.

"This is an important first step - it is not a headlong rush to constitutional change."

- NZPA