12. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Will he follow the example of Australia and change the Government’s position to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?
Hon JOHN KEY (Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
Australia has recently reviewed its stance on the declaration, and an announcement on its new approach is expected on Friday. This Government will look at the way the Australian Government interprets the declaration and see whether its interpretation may be applicable to New Zealand, but I cannot comment until we have seen what the Australians are saying about their support.
Catherine Delahunty Link to this
How can the Government reconcile supporting the flying of a Māori flag on Waitangi Day while still prevaricating on recognising the collective human rights of Māori as affirmed in the UN declaration; or is the Government all symbolism and no action?
I think that in general New Zealand has worked hard in the last 30 years to recognise the rights of indigenous people. This Government has been working very hard to recognise the rights of indigenous people. Flying the flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, working so collaboratively with the Māori Party, and ensuring that the Waitangi Tribunal and the whole Waitangi settlement process is properly funded are all good examples of us working for the rights of indigenous people.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the Government’s position to date has essentially been that if the declaration can be taken to have significant meaning then that meaning cannot actually be enforced by the New Zealand Government, and therefore it has determined not to sign it, but if the declaration can be interpreted to not have any great significant meaning then the Government might be prepared to sign it?
Yes, the declaration is not legally binding; it is an aspirational goal. I think that New Zealand has done a lot for the rights of indigenous people, but let us see what the Australians do on Friday and what caveats they put around their support.
Catherine Delahunty Link to this
Is it right to prevaricate on the recognition of both an aspirational goal and the recognition of the collective human rights of Māori when this Government is dependent on the support of the Māori Party?
We are not prevaricating. Firstly, it will be interesting to see, if the Australians make an announcement on Friday, what caveats they put around that support for the declaration. As I said earlier, it is an aspirational, non-binding declaration. From this Government’s point of view, we take the rights of indigenous people seriously and we are working hard to advance those rights.
Mr SPEAKER