PM Christopher Luxon says ‘very legitimate question’ about Waitangi Tribunal
The Prime Minister is refusing to be drawn before the election on whether National would get rid of the Waitangi Tribunal.
It follows Saturday’s announcement from National’s coalition partner NZ First that the party would abolish the tribunal if re-elected, replacing it with a body tasked with completing historical treaty claims.
The proposed Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission would finalise all claims made before 2008 before being disbanded.
Asked for National’s take during his appearance on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Christopher Luxon said once Treaty settlements had been concluded there was “a very legitimate question” about the tribunal’s role.
“Our election policy is the role of the Waitangi Tribunal will have to change because post-Treaty settlements, the purpose it was originally created for will no longer exist.”
But National was not in a position to say whether it would be completely dismantled, Luxon said.
He referred back to a review of the tribunal, which has been completed but will not be released before the election. The review was part of the coalition agreement between NZ First and National.
“I want to see that review and I want that to be understood and talked about in Cabinet properly.”
Luxon revealed a 10-point pledge card and hammered the “no new taxes” message at National’s campaign launch at the International Convention Centre on Sunday.
Luxon spoke after speeches from senior minister Simeon Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, who gave hints about this week’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (Prefu) from Treasury, telling the crowd: “You’ll like what you see.”
Former PM John Key also used his speech to warn people against “strategic voting” - giving their electorate vote to National and casting their party vote elsewhere.
Meanwhile, at Labour’s campaign launch at South Auckland’s Due Drop centre, the party pledged to forgive 10% of student loan debt if re-elected, with an estimated cost of $583 million over four years.
The policy would apply to anyone who had finished studying, hadn’t benefited from the Fees Free programme and was still paying off their loan. Those owing $2000 or less would see their debt wiped completely.
Party leader Chris Hipkins gave a fiery speech, focusing on the cost of living and slamming as “bull****” National’s claim that a Labour-led coalition would bring in several new taxes.
Asked on Ryan Bridge TODAY if he was “peeved” over the National Party’s attacks on taxes following his “bull****” comment yesterday, Hipkins said his opposition has nothing to campaign on other than lies about his party.
“They’ve been putting up billboards all over the country. Of course, they’re funded by very, very wealthy people, so they can afford to spend a lot of money spreading lies about the Labour Party.“
Hipkins said Labour does have some rich donors when questioned by Bridge.
“There are a few wealthy people with a conscience.”
The Act Party also revealed on Saturday it planned to deploy a fleet of relocatable noise cameras to catch “excessively noisy” vehicles. They would operate like speed cameras, with the ability to issue fines for noise infringements.
The rollout of 20 cameras would partially start in the Tāmaki electorate in east Auckland. Act MP Brooke van Velden is the seat’s current MP but she is stepping down, with Act hoping its candidate James Christmas will replace her in November.