Act wants accord on claim limits

By ANDREW LAXON and AUDREY YOUNG

Act has demanded that National agree to its policy of settling all Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2010 as a non-negotiable condition for any coalition.

But Act leader Richard Prebble's ultimatum was rejected yesterday by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and several Maori MPs whose support may be needed by a National-Act coalition.

Mr Prebble's new hard-line stance seems designed to drive up Act's support, which has soared since he began pushing the party's treaty message. In yesterday's New Zealand Herald-DigiPoll survey it stood at 10.5 per cent.

However, he risks alienating some Act supporters who strongly disapprove of small parties holding bigger parties to ransom - a tactic Act has carefully avoided until now.

Mr Prebble said in Christchurch that Act's treaty claims policy was a "coalition-breaker."

His non-negotiable timetable would require all claims to be lodged by the end of 2000, processed through the Waitangi Tribunal by 2005 and settled by the Government by 2010.

But he said Act would still support National on confidence and money supply if National did not agree.

"We're certainly not thinking of voting for Labour or the Alliance. They want this matter to go on forever."

Mrs Shipley rejected Mr Prebble's demands, saying: "I'm not settling on an arbitrary timeframe."

She said she believed all claims would be settled before 2010 anyway.

The claims were about two-thirds the way through and she expected two more settlements before the election.

A deadline on treaty claims was also dismissed yesterday by three Maori MPs whose support may be needed by a National-Act coalition - Mauri Pacific leader Tau Henare, Te Tawharau leader Tuariki Delamere and NZ First MP Tutekawa Wyllie.

However, Mr Wyllie's opposition was virtually overturned by the stance of his leader, Winston Peters, who attacked Act's policy but then promised to settle all claims by 2005.

Mr Peters said Act's policy would destroy the country, and that with the right resourcing 99 per cent of treaty issues could be resolved within five years.

Labour leader Helen Clark attacked Act's deadline as a "bumper-sticker solution" which would only pitch New Zealand into a new cycle of grievances and claims.

"Mr Prebble is trying to increase people's fears and misunderstanding of the treaty process. The Prime Minister is too weak to take a lead, so she follows him."

Associate Treaty Negotiations Minister Georgina te Heuheu, speaking at a Te Tai Tonga candidates' meeting last night, ruled out time limits on treaty settlements and the abolishing of the Waitangi Tribunal, another Act plank.

She said an imposition of time limits might breach the treaty and be challenged in court.

"Time limits are neither helpful nor practical," she said.

But Act's stance on treaty settlements appears to be finding favour with voters.

Act's treaty policy has put it at odds with other parties, with Mr Henare the latest to say his party would not support a coalition government that included Act.

Mr Delamere, who as Immigration Minister currently supports National, has said he would support a Labour-led government because of Act's attitude to the treaty if he were re-elected.