Former Alliance and Mana Motuhake leader Sandra Lee-Vercoe says it’s time for iwi leaders to lay their cards on the table, when meeting with the coalition government.
The Iwi Chairs Forum is being held at Orakei over the next two days, with Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith set to attend on Friday along with other ministers.
Ms Lee-Vercoe says with the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill eminent, the iwi leaders need be stern in their approach.
“The crown brought that treaty to our people. It’s an international treaty between two state parties, recognised at law, and constitutionally gave the rights of governments in this country ever to exist so if Government wants to ride roughshod over it, our fight has to be an international fight,” she says.
Ms Lee-Vercoe says interfering with New Zealand’s founding treaty could endanger trust in more recent international treaties.
