The Treaty of Waitangi must be the foundation for any new constitutional framework, the Maori Party says.A three-year constitutional review was announced yesterday which will consider whether New Zealand should have a written constitution.It will also cov
The Treaty of Waitangi must be the foundation for any new constitutional framework, the Maori Party says.
A three-year constitutional review was announced yesterday which will consider whether New Zealand should have a written constitution.
It will also cover electoral issues, including the size of Parliament, the length of the electoral term, and the size and number of electorates.
Maori Party MP Rahui Katene said last night the Treaty would have a significant place in the review.
"The Treaty is our country's founding document and it belongs to all of us -- Maori, Pakeha and all other peoples of this country," she said.
"It is about partnership, mutual respect, co-operation and good faith and therefore it must form the foundation of any new constitutional framework."
The fact that republican status is not included in the review's terms of reference has been causing the most comment on the announcement.
Labour leader Phil Goff said dropping the monarchy should have been included specifically for discussion.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said it was "a bit strange" that republican status was not in the terms of reference and United Future leader Peter Dunne said he was "bitterly disappointed" it wasn't there.
"You cannot have a credible constitutional review without specifically looking at the republic issue, and to try to pretend otherwise would be farcical," he said.
"I think New Zealanders are ready to have that discussion, and rather than sweep it under the carpet the review should address it up front."
Prime Minister John Key said he did not support New Zealand becoming a republic and would not push the idea forward.
"I can't necessarily stop other people trying to progress that debate," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, who announced the review with Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, said although republican status was not in the terms of reference he expected it would be raised.
