Suggestion to extend tribunal’s powers

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 51

Suggestion to extend tribunal’s powers

PA Wellington Extending the Waitangi Tribunal’s powers to ensure that Maori issues were given equal weight in legislation was suggested by the Labour Party to the Royal Commission on the electoral system. Labour said several hui (meetings) and submissions to Royal Commissions had seriously considered the establishment of a second chamber to check legislation from the House of Representatives and to initiate legislation in areas relevant to the Maori people. The Waitangi Tribunal was now performing a similar review function, the chairman of Labour’s

caucus committee on electoral matters, Mr Richard Northey, told the commission. He suggested consideration should be given to reevaluating and possibly extending the Waitangi Tribunal’s powers, particularly in light of the proposal to include the Treaty of Waitangi in the Bill of Rights. The Labour Party also suggested that consideration should be given to electing Maori Members of Parliament every five years, after general elections were held, as a means of highlighting the special nature of Maori representations.

Both National and the New Zealand Party reiterated their views that the Maori seats should be abolished. The New Zealand Party described the Maori seats as an anachronism and a hangover from a paternalistic, [patronising era that no onger had any place in this country’s development as a stable, multicultural democracy. Abolition of the seats would make a number of electorates more marginal and this would sharpen the perception of ail political parties to the needs and aspirations of the Maori people, the party said.