Ex-diplomat to head treaty unit

By RUTH BERRY

The newly appointed director of the Treaty of Waitangi Information Unit, Tia Barrett, hopes to keep the job as uncontroversial as possible.

State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham announced yesterday he had appointed the former diplomat and current chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the job.

Mr Barrett starts work at the new unit, which will have a total staff of three, at the end of the month.

The Government announced the establishment of the unit, to be run from the commission, in May.

Labour promised a treaty education campaign in 1999 but then dragged its heels on the issue, sensitive about being accused of driving a particular ideological agenda.

A chunk of the Labour caucus opposed the campaign when some ministers began working to push it through last year.

But the Government took the plunge, renaming it an information unit and putting State Services Minister Trevor Mallard in charge.

Mr Wintringham said the unit would implement an information programme reflecting the importance the treaty has in all New Zealanders' past, present and future.

"It also reflects the reality that many people's understanding of the treaty is partial and not necessarily based on fact."

Mr Barrett - of Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Apakura and Ngati Rangimahora - has had a 30-year career with Foreign Affairs.

The three-year programme has a $6.47 million budget, which some have dismissed as too small to be meaningful.

Mr Barrett said yesterday it was too early to discuss the specifics of the programme.

Several opposition parties suggested in May that it would be a Government propaganda exercise.

Mr Barrett said: "I don't know the nature and extent of criticism but I don't think people can really question the need to make sure there is information out there.

"I'm hoping to keep it as uncontroversial as possible."