National and Labour lag behind world on Indigenous Rights

National and Labour’s reluctance to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People shows a lack of genuine commitment to indigenous rights, Green Party Treaty of Waitangi Spokesperson, Catherine Delahunty said today.

New Zealand is now one of only three countries in the world that oppose the Declaration.

“Comments in the last few days by the Prime Minister John Key and Labour Leader Phil Goff have had an ambivalent tone as if New Zealand signing might be okay as long as they can continue to ignore indigenous rights,” said Ms Delahunty.

The Prime Minister told Radio New Zealand that the Declaration is one of many issues on the table and that Maori would not get everything they asked for. “Right now Maori are not getting straight answers on the Declaration and are being deprived of any representation in the Auckland supercity,” Ms Delahunty said.

“Phil Goff has suddenly started talking about signing the Declaration because Australia has changed its position. This U-turn after Labour’s staunch opposition to the Declaration whilst in power shows they have no credibility on indigenous rights.

“The Green Party would like to know when the Prime Minister will announce a position and if New Zealand finally signs, what the Government intends to do to make the commitment meaningful.

“If they are looking for a way to act in the spirit of the Declaration they will immediately reinstate the Maori seats as a given in any new form of Auckland governance,” said Ms Delahunty