This page last modified 12 November 1999
Treaty of Waitangi
Introduction
This policy primarily addresses the wider issues of partnership and of racial harmony.
It takes as its starting point the recognition of the key importance of the Treaty of Waitangi which defines the partners as on one hand being those who wish to be acknowledged as Mäori under the auspices of the Treaty of Waitangi and on the other, all others including the various ethnic groups, who are subject to New Zealand law and represented by the Crown (Government) partner.
The Treaty of Waitangi is considered by many sections of government, business organisations and communities as being the founding document of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Alliance shares this recognition of the Treaty as the foundation on which we can develop the relationship between Mäori and Pakeha, necessary to unite all New Zealanders by providing justice and fairness for all. We believe, therefore, that the Treaty must become a part of New Zealand's constitutional law.
The Treaty of Waitangi
The Crown partner failed to honour these obligations by extinguishing Mäori rights through the imposition of unjust legislation and breaches of agreements. The increasing disparities in social equity for Mäori have seen past injustices exacerbated. Mäori continue to be over represented in all the negative statistics as confirmed in the most recent if somewhat discouraging report from the Ministry of Mäori Development and euphemistically entitled Progress Towards Closing Social and Economic Gaps Between Mäori and Non Mäori. Mainstreaming of the Mäori Affairs funding allocations has failed to reverse these trends.
The Alliance's Treaty of Waitangi policy is built around three themes, which we believe will remove barriers to Mäori social and economic development and growth. These are:
(i) public education about our Treaty of Waitangi heritage and the reconciliation of grievances between Mäori and other New Zealanders in which the onus is on upholding entitlements.
(ii) constitutional development which places the emphasis on building governing institutions which value the Treaty of Waitangi partnership.
(iii) Mäori development in which the priority is to remove barriers and to facilitate political, social and economic development.
Giving effect to the Treaty
The key to giving honour and effect to the Treaty of Waitangi and enabling Mäori to develop in the way they seek, is to remove the barriers that impede those developments so that Mäori are better empowered to participate in and co-operate with government in making and implementing decisions that affect them. This is best achieved through public education, structural change and a legislative programme that will strengthen Mäori participation in our society.
This aspect of the policy is designed to promote the partnership role between Mäori and government. It is about giving Mäori the opportunity to develop and implement policies in areas where governments and public authorities have failed. To do so is a positive move to improve the social and economic well-being of Mäori.
The Alliance believes that it is vital for harmonious race relations in the new century that the well-founded historic grievances of Mäori are addressed fairly and expeditiously. Through an effective public education programme, all New Zealanders will understand and ultimately support the addressing of past wrongs and the restoration of legitimately owned resources to ensure that Mäori can establish a strong economic and social base for the future.
It is in the interest of all New Zealanders to have Mäori grievances settled expeditiously. In recognition of this the Alliance has allocated extra funding to the Waitangi Tribunal and will contribute to a Treaty Justice Fund until all legitimate claims are settled.
Our proposed public education initiatives will ensure that all New Zealanders have available the information they need to understand the basis of the Treaty settlement process. We are confident that this process will lead to a reconciliation which will improve Mäori economic and social status and thus have a positive effect on the overall status of all people of this country.
All New Zealanders recognise the need to improve Mäori/Pakeha relations. Many however do not appreciate that the constraints to improvements are located in social attitudes impelled by the demand for equality through one law for all. Problems therefore exist because the effect of some legislation has been to discriminate against Mäori. New Zealand society in general is diverse and in many areas this is reflected in the achievement and aspirations of those who choose to be classified as Mäori. One notable distinction is a dogged determination to resist cultural assimilation.
There is no doubt that an assimilationist agenda is a feature of our history. Not withstanding an abundance of evidence to suggest that this is no longer seen as a viable or even sensible option, the rhetoric of assimilation still persists, manifesting itself in the persistent adherence to the view that 'one-size fits all'. Some will perceive this analysis as fostering divisions based on culture and so threatening national unity. The Mäori response is that difference is not synonymous with division nor equality with sameness.
The relatively recent acknowledgement by international courts and legislators of indigenous people's rights has given impetus and credence to the aspirations of those people world-wide.
The lack of real protection for Mäori rights within the New Zealand parliamentary system, reinforces uncertainty and mistrust, and gives credence to Mäori protests with regards to all historical grievances. Race relations in the future will depend to a significant degree on the key aspects of this Treaty of Waitangi policy. Constitutional Development will bring down barriers, raise Mäori participation in political, economic and social developments and provide the framework for positive Mäori policy developments and initiatives particularly in Mäori Health, Education, Employment, Housing and imprisonment rehabilitation.
To establish a constitution for Aotearoa/New Zealand based on the Treaty of Waitangi, the Treaty must be ratified through a legislative programme which recognises Crown and Mäori rights and identifies processes for protecting them. We propose a joint Crown/Mäori team to plan and implement a constitutional development programme. The constitutional programme should be fully implemented within ten years. Independent monitors selected by government and Mäori will ensure the programme remains on track and achieves the agreed goals. There may be opportunities for other countries to share in this innovative process.
[refer to conflicting constitutional proposals in Constitution Policy]
Regional Mäori councils
Ten Rohe of fifteen members each will be established to represent the iwi, hapu and mätäwaka of the regions. Eight members will be democratically elected by hapü, iwi in the regions. The other seven will be elected by people on the Mäori electoral roll , resident in the region. Rohe Pooti will develop and manage the implementation of local and regional policies that will enable Mäori development to take place in areas such as employment, housing, afforestation, farming, fisheries, aquaculture, commerce, education, health and welfare.
A national Mäori assembly
An assembly of Mäori will be held each year to develop, establish and identify the key issues regarding Mäori/Crown partnership. The assembly will be inclusive of all Mäori including representation from iwi, hapü, marae, Mäori organisations and individual Mäori.
Mäori representation in parliament
Guaranteed Mäori representation in Parliament will continue to be based on the number of seats generated by Mäori represented on the Mäori electoral rolls. The Alliance supports the creation of a central Mäori Council which will consist of ten members elected by the assembly and two representatives from each Rohe Pooti. The Alliance will continue to support the MMP Electoral system in recognition of the fact that it offers Mäori the right to participate more fairly in the democratic system.
Social equity for Mäori people
The Alliance policies in many areas will have a radically beneficial effect on the present disparities of income and achievement of Mäori people. But these are not sufficient in themselves to redress social imbalances created by decades of failure to implement Treaty guarantees. Mäori development will need to be monitored and special programmes put in place as necessary to redress these imbalances.
Conclusion
The Alliance believes that the relationship we have with Mana Motuhake is a genuine model for the expression of tino rangatira envisaged by the Treaty. Enabling Mäori potential to be realised through full participation in the political, social and economic development of Aotearoa/New Zealand and more control over their own affairs and destiny will ultimately ensure the genuine partnership which is the only real basis upon which we can build the nation envisaged at Waitangi.
Press Release The Alliance 22/10/99 16:46:00
'It's time that sports and recreation were brought in from the
political wilderness,' Alliance leader Jim Anderton said today.
He announced the Alliance sports and recreation policy which will see a network of sports academies set up, recreational fishing areas created and live free to air broadcasts of major sports events.
The most urgent item on the Alliance sports agenda is guaranteed funding to help New Zealand athletes complete preparations for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, which Jim Anderton says could be in place by Christmas.
'The Sports Foundation said in June that it needs another $5.4 million to ensure we have our best-ever prepared team at Sydney. The funding was needed to help athletes in their final preparations for Syndey and other key events.
'Some funding will have been raised already and some opoportunities will have passed by. But the amounts required as a proportion of the government's overall budget are trifling in order to maximise the opportunity to succeed at one of the world's most competitive and demanding sports events.
'As the heart of a new government the Alliance will ensure that any outstanding funding requirements to help athletes prepare for Sydney are put in place as soon as the new government is formed.'
The Alliance wants a network of Sports Academies which would be planned in partnership with sports bodies and national sports funding organisations. They will be part of the Alliance regional development investment programme.
'Academies are centres for intensive training where the talents of young athletes can be blended with specialised expertise to maximise the potential of both the athletes and our sports teams. They can often be suitably located in regional areas where they provide a healthy boost for the local economy.
'The Alliance will invest in Sports Academies as part of our employment and economic development programme.
Northland, the Bay of Plenty, the Central North Island, the East Coast of the North Island, the West Coast of the South Island and Southland will be priority areas.
'Northland, for example, has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country. Instead of sending Northland kids all over the country looking for work, a Sports Academy in a town like Kaikohe could be a useful way of helping to keep them home and providing a service to the whole country. If Northland keeps developing great rugby players, we can [Image]always use them in Canterbury!'
Jim Anderton said recreational fishing is too often ignored by the government when it comes to sports.
'Not many people realise that recreational fishing is one of the biggest participatory sports in the country. We need to develop marine areas where recreational fishers can take advantage of protected stocks of fish.'
The Alliance will establish recreational fishing reserves which will be restricted to non-commercial fishing.
The Alliance will introduce new laws styled on the Australian example to protect and restore live free to air broadcasts of significant national sports events.
'Anti-siphoning' legislation operates successfully in Britain and Australia to ensure that the general public have access to major sports events without compromising the ability of sports to attract revenue through the sale of TV rights.
Jim Anderton is proud that the Alliance is planning to boost backing for disabled sports.
'Sporting events for the disabled have received very little government support. The International Paralympics World Swimming Championships in Christchurch, for example, included competitors from 53 countries and three times as many swimmers as took part in the Christchurch Commonwealth Games. It contributed some $5.4 million to the local economy. Yet Parafed, which lays claim to at least 13 world record holders in sports as divrse as shooting, swimming, skiing and wheelchair rugby, received less government funding in 1998-99 than netball, men's golf, yachting or rugby union.
'The Alliance will ensure that funding for disabled sports is provided, reflecting levels of support for other able-bodied sports in which New Zealanders excel. Increased funding for disabled sports will be provided from government coffers, not by reducing funding for other sports which are almost all struggling themselves for adequate support.
'The overall cost of the Alliance sports package is very low, but it will make a huge difference. Free-to-air TV coverage and recreational fishing reserves do not require taxpayer funding. Sydney 2000 funding is a one-off. When it comes to disabled sports, relatively small sums of money can go a very long way.
'The most expensive item of this sports and recreation package is the establishment of Sports Academies. The Alliance has already built the cost of these intiatives into previously-announced regional development and employment policies,' Jim Anderton said.
3/11/99
Introduction
New Zealand is facing a growing crisis in the loss of our unique species and ecosystems. Some 10% of our land is seriously eroded, 80% of original forest cover has been removed and 90% of wetlands have been destroyed. Introduced pests and weeds have seriously damaged remaining natural ecosystems and we have 11% of the world's endangered bird species.
It is essential that we restore a harmonious relationship between human society and the natural environment, based on the recognition that our economic, social and individual wellbeing depend on the wellbeing of other species and shared ecological systems.
The Alliance will fully fund the department of Conservation to protect and rebuild our endangered ecosystems. The Alliance will introduce and expand programmes to address the loss of species and ecosystems, and rebuild awareness and attitudes towards conserving our environment and protecting New Zealand's ecosystems.
Note that the Resource Management Act is addressed in the environment policy and much of our policy includes environmental concerns.
Protecting New Zealand's ecosystems with DoC and the community
Active responsibility must be taken for protecting New Zealand's endangered wildlife and its habitats; its genetic diversity; and the ecosystems on which all life depends. This will be done through active partnerships between DoC and tangata whenua, rohe pöti, local government, landowners, community groups and community conservation organisations.
Local councils will be encouraged to exempt from rating all areas of important forest, wetland and wildlife habitat, with back payment of rates due if it is ever cleared. Assistance will be available for councils with special needs.
To protect and rehabilitate New Zealand's ecosystems the Alliance will:
Funding will be increased to
the Department of Conservation to restore the Department's ability
to monitor ecosystems, protect endangered species and their habitats,
control pests and contribute to heritage conservation.
As a matter of urgency the 'Save the Kiwi' programmes need to be boosted around the country and taken on as a matter of national heritage preservation of the first order. All endangered species programmes will be boosted.
Boost pest management and border control
A strategic approach to pest management (including weeds) will be adopted that prevents new pests from entering the country, and limits the spread of pests between and within regions. New and outlying populations of pest species (e.g. thar, wallabies, and sika deer) will be eradicated to prevent pest spread. Farming of deer, goats and mustelids will be strictly controlled to prevent the establishment of new pest populations in the wild.
As pests such as possums reach plague proportions there has been a flurry of activity to address the problem but this has suffered from a lack of integration or long term planning. A broad based approach incorporating a mix of strategies is needed which treats introduced species as both a threat and a potential resource.
Ecologically destructive pests
such as possums, rabbits and wasps will be eradicated or controlled
via a nationally integrated plan. Possum/rabbit meat export and
domestic consumption of wild rabbit meat proposals will be researched
and integrated with the effective use of resources nationally
and locally so as to maximise employment creation. Long-term research
will be boosted into ecologically sustainable methods of control
with an emphasis on biological, rather than chemical, solutions.
Aerial drops of 1080 will be used only as a short-term crisis
measure in areas where ground control is not feasible, and will
be subject to new information on its usage.
Pest and noxious weed control will be (coordinated by DoC and)
administered by Regional Councils in conjunction with, and in
consultation with District Councils.
The current system of recovery of the cost of notifications, treatment and control of TB and other diseases will be reviewed to ascertain whether is it equitably shared by the production sectors benefiting from the service.
Border controls will be continually reassessed to ensure the most effective and up to date techniques are being used to protect New Zealand from the introduction of damaging pests and diseases and adequate resources will be provided for this. Measures to control pests and diseases such as fruit fly and foot and mouth disease will be planned in consultation with producer, health, and community and consumer groups. Should such organisms be introduced, we will take all possible steps to ensure that neither our productive base nor human health will be damaged by such controls.
Protect indigenous forests
The Alliance will protect all
publicly owned native forests and ensure sustainable management
of all unprotected native forests.
Our remaining indigenous forests will be protected or sustainably
managed. Introduced pest and weed species and increasing pressures
of recreation, tourism and resource use necessitates monitoring
and management of all areas. Publicly managed native forests will
be maintained in a condition as close to their original state
as possible and protected from harmful pests, including introduced
browsing animals. Increased pest control will provide opportunities
for increased regional employment.
Negotiations will be expedited with owners of native forest on land covered by the South Island Landless Mäori Act, currently exempted from the sustainable management requirements of the Forests Act. These forests will be protected or brought under the sustainable management system in return for reasonable compensation.
All state owned indigenous forests will be protected and retained in their natural state. All logging of publicly owned native forests, including those currently managed by Timberlands West Coast, will be phased out by way of a transition programme developed in association with local government and the West Coast communities. This programme will feature regional development and investment in regional infrastructure to create genuine alternative long-term employment for those displaced by the termination of logging. The forests will be transferred to the administration of the Department of Conservation.
Ecologically sustainable management
of indigenous forest on private land will be ensured through provisions
of the Forests Act and the Resource Management Act. Local authorities
will be encouraged to use their powers under the Rating Act to
provide rate relief for indigenous forest blocks maintained for
conservation purposes.
The long-term rehabilitation of the large areas of degraded native
forest will be assisted through pest management and by replanting
or silviculture treatment to encourage regeneration of logged
species.
Export of native logs, woodchips and sawn timber will be officially banned (effective immediately), unless from plantation forests. Planting of native species for timber production will be promoted.
Marine, freshwater and wetlands will be protected
The Alliance will establish a national wetlands protection programme to ensure the survival of remaining wetlands, wherever they are located. Remaining wild and scenic rivers will be protected from degradation. Hydro schemes, which significantly alter these values, will not be permitted nor will the introduction of exotic freshwater fish with pest potential. Interference with natural watercourses (including abstraction for irrigation) will be subject to strict ecological criteria to protect the habitat of freshwater species.
A national water policy statement will be prepared, which will include Maori perspectives on water quality and the protection of freshwater ecosystems.
There will be a review of the Marine Reserves Act to ensure that it facilitates reserve creation. A programme to gazette at least 10% in each region of our coastline as marine reserves and marine recreational parks (by the year 2010) will be initiated. Reserves will be created after consultation with the local community and tangata whenua groups. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park proposal will be progressed, with a stronger oversight body to ensure good management. The Hector's Dolphin Marine Mammal Sanctuary will be strengthened and expanded. Fishing practices which are causing the deaths of protected species such as New Zealand Sea Lions and albatross will be restricted.
DoC to protect more High Country land
A comprehensive programme for High Country lands in the South Island is needed which will include a substantial transfer to DoC of those parts of the high country leases which have ecological and recreational value and which must be protected from grazing, including adequate reserves for tussock grassland, shrublands and wetlands. The additional funding for DoC will ensure it can take responsibility for these lands.
Use the RMA to promote sustainable land management
Sustainable land management will be promoted through the Resource Management Act and Landcare groups in polluted catchments will be supported with research, information and advice in their efforts to reduce water pollution from agricultural runoff. Ballast discharges will be carefully monitored and enforcement increased if necessary.
Mining to be stopped in conservation areas
Amendments to the Crown Minerals Act will be pursued to ensure that areas of particular ecological importance, such as National Parks, conservation parks, wilderness and World Heritage areas, reserves, ecological areas, water supply catchments and the coastal marine area will be closed to mining.
Regional development and local programmes
Local and regional communities
and iwi will be supported in setting up programmes to employ local
people in the restoration and enhancement of their environment
in consultation with the Department of Conservation.
Funding is provided in our regional development plans to include
jobs in conservation including local initiatives, pest control,
ecosystem rehabilitation, ecotourism initiatives, public walkway
developments, and native afforestation programmes to protect soil
and water.
Maintenance, enhancement and
adaptive re-use of heritage buildings will be promoted in conjunction
with owners, to ensure continuing economic use of buildings. The
reinstatement of government earthquake risk insurance cover for
heritage buildings which have difficulty getting cover elsewhere
will be examined, along with tax concessions for restoration and
strengthening.
There will be more emphasis on conserving historic heritage under
the Resource Management Act. Rather than slashing the funding
of the Historic Places Trust, as proposed by the current Government,
the operational budget of the Trust will be increased. A separate
Mäori heritage agency will be established to promote Mäori
heritage in conjunction with the Central Mäori Council and
rohe pöti.
The Treaty of Waitangi
The Alliance recognises the major contribution made by Mäori in gifting land for national parks and reserves. We support the principles of tino rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga and kawanatanga. Iwi and rohe pöti will be assisted to exercise their rights of partnership under the Treaty of Waitangi and consulted at all stages of policy development. Guidelines will be produced to encourage developers to work within a bicultural framework and consult with tangata whenua on development projects.
Rebuilding awareness
The place of conservation education
in schools and teachers colleges will be strengthened. It will
focus on direct, hands-on, outdoor experience and understanding
of New Zealand's unique environment, its plants and animals and
our interdependence. Conservation education will include the Mäori
relationship with the natural environment provided in partnership
with Mäori.
Educational programmes will be developed by the Department of
Conservation in consultation with appropriate eduation and environment
bodies.
Public access to conservation lands, coast, rivers and lakes will
be guaranteed by maintaining the Queen's Chain where it exists
and creating it where land is subdivided. The sale or leasing
of it to private interests will be prohibited except where existing
uses cannot be relocated. Traditional public access will be maintained
and where appropriate enhanced over Crown and SOE lands. Interpretation
of conservation areas for the public will be enhanced and significantly
increased.
To rebuild awareness the Alliance will:
[refer to conflicting constitutional proposals in Treaty Policy]
The Constitution
Introduction
New Zealand has a proud tradition
of egalitarian parliamentary democracy in which we all play a
part in the rights and responsibilities attached to citizenship.
Ours is a pluralist society in which there should be free expression
of all points of view and this should be reflected in our political
systems. Over recent years politics has fallen to a low point
in public esteem because those in government have seemed incapable
of delivering either on their promises or the outcomes that citizens
expect and demand. The Alliance aims to restore, citizenship,
integrity and accountability to the political process.
We believe in fair, representative, open, and effective government
of the people, by the people. To achieve this means promoting
self-awareness and development, individual responsibility and
good citizenship, and recognising the mutual dependency between
people and the society they live in. It also means educating people
about public accountability in its widest sense and the way our
system works so we are encouraged to participate more in the parliamentary
and local government processes.
The Alliance is fully committed to proportional representation
as a fairer means of ensuring the widest possible representation
of political diversity within our society. We believe that the
present experiment with MMP has the potential to deliver that
outcome and must be allowed to run its course so that it can be
assessed after a fair trial. We particularly support any moves
which will encourage women and ethnic groups to participate more
fully in our democratic processes, and note that MMP has already
achieved some progress in that regard.
It is our policy to impose limits on the ways the government,
politicians, and the structures of administration exercise their
authority over citizens, so that they return to being the servants
of the people rather than their masters.
Goals
An Alliance administration will return integrity to the parliamentary system by introducing measures which: ensure stability in MMP coalition governments; ensure dynamic and democratic constitutional processes; enhance local government; seek to ensure the Treaty of Waitangi is no longer a source of grievance but rather a source of pride to all New Zealanders; and explore ways in which we can extend citizen rights by extending the provisions of the Bill of Rights Act and the Official Information Act, through a written constitution, and by ensuring that the role of and the powers exercised by public servants are clearly defined and applied within clear limits.
Returning integrity to the government and parliament
Much of the current lack of integrity in government is caused by members of parliament changing their political allegiances after they have been elected. This has brought discredit to MMP. An Alliance administration will introduce an antidefection law which would require MPs to resign from Parliament if they resign from their party. This legislation will have a five year 'sunset' clause so the effect it will have on the integrity and stability of government formation can be assessed.
Ensuring dynamic, democratic and accountable constitutional processes
We believe that a direct relationship
between citizens and those they elect is one of the hallmarks
of a democratic society. But we are also concerned to note that
this direct relationship has been progressively lost in many areas
by the creation of state owned enterprises, and other statutory
bodies, and by the significant contracting out of many community
functions. Any direct link with the process of electing accountable
representatives has been lost or is now so far removed that it
is without effect in holding those who exercise power to account.
We will take steps as an administration to review and restore
these relationships of accountability.
We believe that no MP should be able to hold more than one elected
office at any one time; and that no sitting MP should be able
to stand in a by-election. We will take steps to legislate accordingly.
Citizens are also entitled to know what the influences are which
might have a bearing on the way in which elected members vote
. An Alliance administration will require that a register be kept
of all MPs assets and their financial position. This should be
available to any select committee upon request to ensure against
conflict of interest or bias. A process will also be developed
for publishing this information to improve public awareness of
the nature of their parliamentary representation.
The present arrangements for parliamentary voting such as those
for voting by proxy need to be reviewed to ensure that this process
is not manipulated.
There is a need to spread the offices held by members of parliament
more widely on a bi-partisan basis. An Alliance administration
would ensure that deputy Speakers are elected by the House from
among the MPs of parties other than that of the Speaker. We will
also ensure the proportionality principle with regard to election
of select committee Chairpersons and Deputy chairpersons. Select
committees themselves need to have their independence from the
government guaranteed by ensuring that the full committee and
not the Chairperson makes the appointment of independent specialist
advisers by resolution. We will ensure that all legislation introduced
to parliament has an accompanying impact statement outlining the
social, economic and environmental impacts associated with the
legislation so that select committees will be in a position to
respond to these considerations as well as to the text of the
legislation.
Guarding the guardians
There are processes in place
at present to ensure the integrity of ways in which public money
is spent. These processes need to be strengthened and more adequately
resourced. The Office of the Auditor General would be assisted
by the creation of a permanent Audit Select Committee chaired
by a non-government member of parliament, to both conduct enquiries
into specific areas of expenditure, and to enquire into the social,
economic, and environmental costs and benefits of existing legislation.
Present budgetary and parliamentary processes are not well understood
by the public at large. There is a need to enhance public awareness
in this area as well as to examine these processes to ensure that
they genuinely meet the needs of governments under MMP. This means
exploring the need for a comprehensive civics programme to be
built into school curricula.
There has been some disquiet among voters over the manner in which
the Citizens Initiated Referenda have operated, the ways in which
political parties and candidates are funded, and the manner in
which parliament is excluded in some quite important instances
from the process for ratifying treaties. An Alliance administration
would ask appropriate institutions such as the Electoral Commission
and the Office of the Clerk of the House to report further on
all of these matters.
Enhancement of local government
The Alliance has a comprehensive policy on local government which we see as an area of governance which is as important in its own way as that of government at the national level. This policy is founded on the need to re-empower local government with the intention of curbing central government influence and re-asserting community involvement in community affairs.
The place of the Treaty of Waitangi
The Alliance is committed to the Treaty of Waitangi as one of our most important constitutional founding documents. Its place in our constitution needs to be recognised, in particular in ways which ensure that the Treaty is no longer a source of grievance but rather a source of pride to all New Zealanders. We believe that the systems developed over the last decade for dealing with Treaty claims need to be strengthened and better resourced. We support the streamlining of the Treaty process in ways which enhance its effectiveness and which ensure that its goals of equity and certainty of redress for all parties are served and that the outcomes of its deliberations are such that all New Zealanders can join in celebrating these as a new beginning.
Extending constitutional protections
There is a growing concern that
the freedoms and liberties of citizens are under increasing pressure.
The right of liberty within the law and freedom from the oppressive
actions of governments is the foundation of any democratic system.
We will convene a Royal Commission to study and make recommendations
on: extending the Bill of Rights to include concepts such as social
justice and an adequate standard of living for all New Zealanders;
widening the application of the Bill of Rights to cover matters
such as its supremacy in a conflict of laws, compliance of new
and existing law with it, and the manner of its judicial interpretation;
the appointment of judges; and the need for a more comprehensive
written statement of our constitution than that contained in the
current Constitution Act 1986. We would expect the outcome of
any recommendations of this process to be the subject of a referendum.
The Official Information Act has now been in force for nearly
two decades and needs to be reviewed as to its effectiveness,
particularly in an electronic age which it predates. We note the
development of the concept of 'open book government' in some other
countries i.e. the direct accessing of electronically held official
information, particularly that of direct relevance to individual
citizens, and we believe that the concept is worth examining in
our own situation.
It is also over a decade since the public sector was re-organised
on a market driven basis, and there are widespread misgivings
that these reforms have not delivered what was claimed for them.
In particular we are concerned that the outcome has been the politicising
of what ought to be a career and neutral sector and we will review
the outcomes of the reforms to determine whether further change
is necessary to deliver a more accountable service to the public
and to employees in the public sector.
The Alliance finally has serious misgivings about the manner in
which our security services are governed and held accountable.
We would initiate a full enquiry into the role and function of
such services in a post cold war environment, and to examine whether
they are needed at all and if so how they might best be subject
to democratic control. We are opposed to any provision which allows
agents of the security services to invade the homes of ordinary
citizens without the same authorisation as applies to the Police.