September 30, 2016
Tribunal defended from Brash attack
A leading Maori Council member says former National Party leader Don Brash is barking up the wrong tree with his call for an end to the Waitangi Tribunal.
The call is part of the platform of the new Hobson’s Pledge group set up by Dr Brash to oppose what it calls favouritism to Maori.
Maanu Paul, who chairs the Mataatua District Maori Council, says the tribunal exists to investigate ways the crown has breached the Treaty of Waitangi.
"Most Pakehas would say 'Don Brash, you are barking up the wrong tree.' We do need a mechanism where we can resolve the differences between the crown, Pakeha and Maori and once we have done that and there are no such differences, then perhaps we might review whether the tribunal needs to be maintained," he says.
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