Bill Kills Treaty Claims

A bill setting September 1, 2008 as the deadline for lodging historical Treaty of Waitangi claims was debated in Parliament last night for the first time.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said it would ensure Maori "once and for all" determined the scope of their claims.

"It will mean we can then turn our focus and energy into completing the research required to establish those claims properly before the Waitangi Tribunal," he said.

The deadline does not affect contemporary claims which relate to actions of the Crown after September 21, 1992.

National supported setting the deadline, but questioned the way it had been brought to Parliament.

Maori affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee said setting the deadline was a "showcase piece of legislation" for Labour, and should not have been put into the omnibus Maori Purposes Bill which contains numerous amendments to four statutes.

The bill passed its first reading and was sent to the Maori affairs select committee for public submissions.