Māori Party MP Rāhui Katene says her party has to ensure the National-led Government has a proper conversation with claimants over the Waitangi Tribunal's report on the Wai 262 claim.
The long-awaited report, produced in response to a cultural intellectual property claim, aims to help develop relations between Māori and the Crown after Treaty grievances are resolved. It proposes a raft of changes across all branches of government.
The Tribunal released the report on Saturday and called for a fundamental shift in attitude on the part of Government, saying it must become more Māori in its outlook, value Māori culture in everything it says and does, and welcome Māori "into the very centre of the way we do things in this country".
Mrs Katene hopes the Government will consider the report carefully and look at what progress there has been in the 20 years since the claim was made.
The MP says the Government appears to believe what has happened over the past 20 years has dealt with the claim, but she disagrees, and it will be the Māori Party's responsibility to work with the Government and claimants to ensure that conversation does take place.
