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The Constitutional Advisory Panel has advised against including the Treaty of Waitangi in a written constitution.
In its report released yesterday, the panel highlighted a continuing lack of understanding in the community about the treaty, and suggested the Government promote civics, the Treaty of Waitangi and citizenship education in schools and communities.
It also rejected the large number of submissions calling for the Maori seats to be abolished, saying the seats are effectively self-regulating as Maori can determine, through the Maori Electoral Option, whether or not they continue.
Labour MP Shane Jones says Maori will always cling to the treaty, whatever the government of the day wants to do with it.
"You cannot anticipate the other challenges te ao Maori will face and the Pakeha population diminishes over time, multiculturalism grows, the treaty will always endure, and those of us who have been brought up by matuas to believe in the essence of the treaty was an affirmation of Maori pride, Maori identity and rights, that will never disappear," he says.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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