Minister defends course on treaty

Housing New Zealand staff who attended a course on the history of the Treaty of Waitangi did so voluntarily, and it was not a factor in whether they got or missed out on a job, Housing Minister Steve Maharey said yesterday.

Opposition MPs questioned the minister about the cost of the course that tested participants on their knowledge of the treaty.

Mr Maharey said the course cost little compared to the department's budget, and that such training courses had been common under the former National-led government.

Mr Maharey said 67 staff voluntarily attended the pilot training course on the history of the treaty. The cost was $111,821, which included travel and accommodation.

"That represents less than 0.02 per cent of the corporation's budget."

That explanation was not good enough for Act deputy leader Muriel Newman.

"Can the minister tell the House exactly how 30 days of affirmation and meditation about a two-world view helps Housing New Zealand Corporation staff provide even one New Zealander with a warmer, safer, drier house?" she asked.

Act leader Rodney Hide quoted from the Housing NZ training manual, saying it required staff to complete "30 days of affirmations and meditation to deepen their understanding and application of Housing New Zealand's two-world view framework".

Mr Maharey said Dr Newman might be overreacting to the language used in the course material.

The contractor had used the word meditation to describe thinking, and the word affirmation for concluding.

Act MP Richard Prebble said a test from the Waitangi education programme asked: "Which statement best describes the Crown's intent of the Treaty of Waitangi? a) A colonial device to take over the country and facilitate large-scale settlement of British people; b) Designed to provide Maori chiefs with a solution to the behaviour of unruly settlers; c) Designed to provide a settled form of civil government in order to protect Maori and Europeans alike; d) Bring the benefits of British civilisation to Maori; e) Designed to prevent Maori from killing each other as a result of the introduction of muskets."

Mr Maharey said material for the course was aimed at providing stimulation, discussion, and promoting thinking about issues.