Public vote likely to cap off treaty probe

By AUDREY YOUNG

The Government is close to agreeing that a referendum may be held at the end of a lengthy commission of inquiry into the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand and other constitutional issues.

It is in the thick of negotiations with United Future and the Green Party, as well as consulting Maori leaders.

But New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who was invited to one meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark, is being left out of the discussions for the time being.

The subjects of discussion among Government-friendly parties include the structure and format of the inquiry, terms of reference and who might sit on the commission.

The idea of a referendum has been long promoted by United Future leader Peter Dunne, who is likely to be sensitive to the potential for New Zealand First to claim it as one of its achievements. This week Mr Dunne told Parliament that processes under consideration included "an education programme to bring New Zealanders together in a national conversation about our future, to be followed by a royal commission or its equivalent, then leading ultimately to any major decisions being the subject of a referendum".

However, Mr Peters has also backed a referendum and repeated this yesterday in Wellington. "The path through the constitutional jungle ahead will be found by ordinary New Zealanders. That is why we have told the Prime Minister that when the debate is ended, the people must make the decisions on our constitutional framework."

He said a country's constitution, written or unwritten, was the foundation on which laws were framed and "as with any house, the foundations are all-important".

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said it was important to begin any inquiry with a dialogue between New Zealanders and there had to be a structured process for that to occur.