United Future Policies
Bi-culturalism and Treaty Issues
United Future New Zealand recognises the Treaty as the founding document of New Zealand that still has an important role to play in the evolution of New Zealand. We are committed to addressing Treaty of Waitangi issues in a way that benefits everyone. However, like many other New Zealanders, we are concerned at the way in which the process of resolving Treaty grievances has been handled over the last fifteen years. What started as a process to heal wounds seems to have become one to enrich lawyers.

United Future has some immediate proposals to reform the Waitangi Tribunal process and some longer-term proposals to make the Treaty a taonga for the whole nation.
United Future accepts that Maori iwi, hapu, and whanau suffered from actions of the New Zealand government that were improper and unconscionable. To allow this to be put behind them, the victims and the descendents of the perpetrators have to go through a process of education, repentance, reconciliation and reparation. More is involved in this than money.

In the present situation, there are beliefs that the process has become never-ending, is divisive and only a small proportion of people are benefiting from it. There is concern that the process is not dealing with historic grievances but grievances manufactured under artificially-created Treaty principles.

United Future holds that the settlements which are reached must fit within the norms of a modern liberal democratic society. It is a bad principle to give one class of citizens greater rights than others.

Settlements must be generous, without being excessive, to ensure grievances can be effectively laid to rest.

United Future accepts that it is a badly flawed process but does not believe that the proper course is to abolish it or to end it by inaction.

We believe that effective reform must involve the Maori claimants and the support of the general public.
The Future Role of the Treaty

The Treaty was originally intended as a charter to enable Maori and Pakeha to live peaceably and productively together. The Treaty, after the settlement of grievances, will continue to provide the framework for a unique relationship between tangata whenua and the many other people of diverse cultures which make Aotearoa New Zealand their home.

However, the Waitangi Tribunal is considering the various claims before it has laid down standards for the behaviour of Governments that all New Zealanders ought to be able to invoke. Its ability to review legislation and policy as well as Government practice makes it a unique institution.

For the above reasons, as well as to make the Treaty an instrument of reconciliation once all Maori historic grievances are heard, United Future will allow every citizen to invoke the Treaty for the resolution of legitimate grievances.

Note United Future New Zealand accepts that it does not have sufficient Maori members to confidently assume it can identify the needs and aspirations of the tangata whenua and will not be issuing a general Maori policy. We would welcome Maori people to work with us to develop such policies.
   Appoint a full-time Minister for Treaty of Waitangi issues. We believe the process requires active and constant political management, not the on again off again intervention of a Minister saddled with a number of other portfolios that we have witnessed over the last two years.

   We note proposals to abolish the Office of Treaty Settlements but consider it needs a Ministerial review to identify shortcomings, then active ministerial leadership to eliminate them. United Future considers it is more desirable to make existing institutions work more efficiently than to indulge in slash and burn restructurings that have yielded dubious results.

   The Crown Forestry Rental Trust has not filled the role it was originally meant to have. United Future will amend the legislation and Trust Deed to require the Trust to fund all Maori claimants to the tribunal. Its accounts would be audited by the Controller and Auditor-Generalís Department and would be subject to administrative review by that body.

   Fund the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal to increase the number of claims it could consider to speed up the settlement process.

   Budget a fiscal cap of $200 million a year to meet grievances.

   Set a time limit of 2010 for the settlement of historic grievances.

   Look to create a better method of establishing commonly agreed upon historic facts for claims than the present process which is marred by piecemeal short-term commissioning of research. United Future will consult with the Maori claimants, Professional Historians Association and Te Pouhere Korero to try to establish a more comprehensive and orderly process.

   The principles of the Treaty should be codified in legislation so that they can not be extended by ingenious lawyers. This would mean that any extension of the principles would be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and public comment.