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ACT leader Jamie Whyte has attacked what he calls Maori privilege.
Setting out a key election priority, he told the party’s Waikato conference today that identity politics is ugly and goes against the principle that everyone is equal before the law.
He says ACT supports treaty settlements because they recognise violations of Maori property rights over land, but it doesn’t support iwi having a greater say in resource management issues.
ACT, which could be again granted a place in parliament because National is telling its supporters in Epsom to vote for the ACT candidate, is also opposed to Maori seats which Mr Whyte says guarantee parliamentary representation on the basis of race.
Quotas for some tertiary courses came under fire, as did official support of Maori language and culture.
He says New Zealand is awash with race-based law, which ACT’s MPs will work to have repealed.
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