Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Relocating Tiriti o Waitangi document to cost millions

Updated at 7:20 pm on 5 July 2012

Labour Party deputy leader Grant Robertson says relocating the country's founding document at a cost of more than $6.7 million, is unwarranted.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says Te Tiriti o Waitangi will be moved next year from the Archives New Zealand building in Wellington, to the newly refurbished National Library.

The Labour Party has obtained official Department of Internal Affairs documents, which Te Manu Korihi has seen, that detail costs of the move to the library or alternative locations, and the benefits.

Mr Robertson says the Treaty should stay in Archives New Zealand's constitution room.

He says despite the Government telling New Zealanders it's facing tough financial times, and is cutting jobs in the state sector, nearly $7 million is being spent to give the Treaty a new home.

Mr Robertson says money should instead be allocated to improving public assess to Te Tiriti, and the existing facilities at Archives New Zealand.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain is defending the decision to relocate the Treaty.

He says shifting it to the re-furbished National Library along with other founding documents such as the Women's Franchise petition, will make them more accessible.

Mr Tremain says the relocation will take documents which aren't usually seen, out of the bowels of Archive New Zealand, and put them on a pedestal for the public to see.

He says funding for the move is not new government money, but from his department's existing budget.

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