‘Republic of Aotearoa’

Press, 26 October 1982, Page 2

‘Republic of Aotearoa’

PA ' Picton The time was right for a "Republic of Aotearoa" because the monarchy had outlived its usefulness, the Mana Motuhake president, Mr Matiu Rata, said at the party’s annual conference in Picton. The general image of the Crown amongst Maori people was deteriorating. “The continued welshing by the Crown on ratification of tjie Treaty of Waitangi makes it less and less favoured,” he said. Commenting on the forthcoming visit of Prince Charles, Mr Rata said, “While Charlie is coming out here Princess Anne is gallivanting in South Africa. “Her visit to South Africa cannot be condoned. The party and the Maori people had been blatantly insulted during the Queen's visit last year, Mr Rata said.

A request for an audience with the Queen during her visit so he could present a 10,000 signature petition calling for ratification of the Treaty had been met with the offer of “I’/z minutes on the roadside at Kerikeri.” Mr Rata also said that the Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, and the Ministerof Maori Affairs, Mr Couch, should resign. They had failed their Maori constituents, he said. Mr Rata contrasted the annual budget of $270.6 million provided by the Federal Government of Australia for Aboriginals with the $64.3 million budget of the Department of Maori Affairs. Australia’s commitment was impressive compared with the New Zealand effort, where Mr Couch was unable to spend all his department’s allocation, he said. Mr Bolger’s efforts in the

field of employment was the cause of Mr Rata’s condemnation. Five out of seven of the young unemployed in Auckland were Maori, said Mr Rata.