Mallard fuels race debate

By AUDREY YOUNG

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia thinks Pakeha could call themselves "native New Zealanders" but not indigenous as Cabinet Minister Trevor Mallard said in his first speech as Race Relations Minister.

"New Zealanders who have been here for some time could call themselves native New Zealanders, but I would think the 300 million indigenous people around the world would be surprised."

She said that being indigenous was about being part of the original people and that the term native meant being born in a particular place.

Greens-co leader Rod Donald does not think he should be called "indigenous" or "native" but is happy to be called "tau iwi".

Mr Mallard's Labour colleague Dover Samuels is happy for non-Maori to be called indigenous.

"I've got no problem at all. they've been here long enough."

But both he and Mrs Turia disagreed with Mr Mallard when he said it was a myth that the Treaty of Waitangi gave Maori rights over and above other New Zealanders.

She said there was similarity with National leader Don Brash's Orewa speech to the extent they were both trying "to influence the voting public".

Mrs Turia said he had focused on article three, not article two "which did clearly confirm Maori rangatiratanga, power and authority over their people, their resources".

Mr Samuels said Mr Mallard needed to go back and have a look at the treaty.

"We are not talking about rights. We are talking about considerations that Maori are tangata whenua."

National education spokesman Bill English said Mr Mallard had been "all talk and no action".

The tertiary sector had been rife with "treaty-ology.

"Industry training organisations have been ordered to sort out their treaty 'obligations' as required by Mr Mallard's officials," he said.

"But why should the experts that train our plumbers and mechanics have to bow to political correctness?"