Race conciliators hail show as constructive

By JULIET ROWAN

State of the Nation, TV One's live debate on race relations, has been labelled a success by race relations experts.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres and former Race Relations Conciliators Gregory Fortuin and Rajen Prasad agreed that the two-hour show was constructive and showed that New Zealanders wanted more discussion on issues such as the Treaty of Waitangi and the seabed and foreshore.

Fifty Maori, 50 Pakeha and a panel of experts gathered in the Puke Ariki Heritage Centre in New Plymouth for the mostly well-mannered debate, with presenters Anita McNaught, Kerre Woodham and Robert Rakete attempting to give everyone a chance to have their say.

Diverse views emerged among both sides, who were seated facing each other with the panel in between.

Mr de Bres said the discussion showed the two sides were not pitted against each other.

"This is a debate among New Zealanders, not between Maori on one side and Pakeha on the other."

Mr Fortuin and Dr Prasad praised the presenters for the way they conducted the debate and said they hoped the programme would be continued. Dr Prasad expected the debate to provoke lots of discussion today.