Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:621;Page:16783] 
1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she stand by the reported statement attributed to Government sources by a  
Dominion Post 
article of 8 November 2004 that a government department-led inquiry would set up a “conversation with the people” about the status and role of the treaty; if so what is the purpose of that process? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 No. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Can she perhaps confirm the assertion made in the same  
Dominion Post 
 article that the planned inquiry is seen as a way to “take the heat out of the public’s response to National leader Don Brash’sOrewa speech on race issues.”; if not why not? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: There is no need to; that fire has died out. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Why will her Government not accept the challenge of the National Party to present a clear set of policies on the Treaty of Waitangi and constitutional issues prior to the forthcoming election and allow the New Zealand public to make a decision on them? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I can assure the member that anything the Government proposes in this area will be consultative and inclusive. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why would she take the guidance of the National Party on an issue where its blood DNA and fingerprints are all over the tragedy and mess of the Waitangi industry and secondly why would she think this issue is so unimportant as to announce its details at the upcoming Labour Party conference? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have two points in reply. Firstly I have noticed as the member has a distinct difference between National Party utterances on these subjects when in Government and in Opposition; and secondly the Labour Party conference as the conference of the major party in Government is always an important occasion. 
Dr Don Brash 
: If the Prime Minister genuinely wants a broad public consensus on these issues why does she choose such a partisan venue to announce the proposal? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I do happen to be the leader of the Labour Party and from time to time important announcements are made at the conference. At least we have a leader. That is the point. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I cannot let that last comment of the Prime Minister go. I understand it and I sympathise with what she said but she is not allowed to say it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: This happens to be a democracy—still. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does she agree that if a community dialogue about the treaty is to contribute to better understanding and relationships then it must be properly resourced with accurate information about our history and facilitated by skilled community educators especially given the lack of civics education in our schools and a widespread lack of knowledge about what the treaty actually says including amongst some MPs? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The sentiment behind the member’s question is agreed with by the Government and that is why we resourced the State Services Commission to begin to get factual information on the website so that people can learn more about the history of our country.