10 Dec 2012

Minister dismisses accusations of ignoring flora and fauna report

8:06 pm on 10 December 2012

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson is dismissing a suggestion by the Kohanga movement that the Government has left the Waitangi Tribunal report on flora and fauna lingering.

Co-chair of the movement Tina Olsen-Ratana says that Kohanga can not afford to wait long for action on a report on Maori pre-schools.

She hoped kohanga wouldn't have to wait 18 months to receive a response.

Ms Olsen-Ratana said the Wai262 report on flora and fauna is still waiting to be acted on more than a year after its release.

Mr Finlayson says preparation to release the Wai262 report took some time.

He says by the time it was published the Government had already started making progress.

As an example, Mr Finlayson, says the Government is to introduce special legislation on the haka, Ka Mate is part of the Wai262 report.

The legislation will recognise Ngati Toa and the connection to the haka by the tribe's ancestral chief, Te Rauparaha, who composed it.