A public policy think tank says a call by the Waitangi Tribunal for a Crown apology and more funding for Maori language early childhood centres is arrogant.
The Tribunal has recommended that the Crown revise its early childhood education policies and apologise for severe prejudice to kohanga reo centres for policies in the past decade.
It says the Government should change its funding system for kohanga reo and also help with urgent property improvements, estimated to cost up to $20 million.
But David Round, spokesperson for the Independent Constitutional Review Panel, says the Tribunal has turned into a lobby group for Maori.
Mr Round says the call for an apology is ungrateful - considering how much the taxpayer has contributed to kohanga reo over many years.
"The taxpayer has been that generous to Maori - and we haven't even got a word of thanks. All we've got is the announcement that it's not nearly enough and that we should apologise to Maori for not being more generous."
Mr Round believes the Waitangi Tribunal should be abolished.
