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NZAF inclusive Treaty policy defended

Wed 26 Oct 2005 In: HIV

NZAF board chair Simon Robb is defending the Foundation's commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi, saying it is an inclusive policy that has demonstrably been proven to work for Maori. Robb says New Zealand's HIV epidemic bucks an international trend which has seen indigenous populations vastly over-represented in the statistics. "We're confident the broad mix of skills we currently have on the board to influence strategic direction must be doing something right," he told GayNZ.com. "It must be having positive effect in terms of meeting the needs of those potentially most affected by the epidemic." National's deputy leader and Maori affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee launched an attack on the Foundation at the weekend, labelling the Foundation's advertisement for a new board member “politically correct claptrap” because an understanding of Treaty principles and knowledge of tikanga Maori were listed as two of the skill requirements. Robb says those skills are only part of the job description. “There's a number of skills that are required – law, health promotion, understanding the epidemic, accountancy, as well as understanding the Treaty of Waitangi.” This is the second attack by Brownlee on the Foundation this year. In June, he labelled the board's proposal to set aside 50% of the board seats for Maori as “utterly stupid”. Robb says Brownlee's latest attack shows he is obviously sensitive to these matters. “The advertisement we're running is the same advertisement we've run in the last year or so. He has failed to see that this is the advertisement we ran prior to the proposals earlier in the year.” Robb doesn't believe Brownlee's attacks have dented the Foundation's credibility. “I'm pretty confident the public can work through that he's just coming from a fixed position and doesn't fully understand that this is a domestic or national response to fighting the epidemic effectively,” he says. “If he actually read our constitution he would understand that, we are required to have a balance of skill and experience on the board.” Brownlee doesn't understand what Treaty relations has to do specifically with fighting the HIV epidemic, and it seems some Foundation members agree with him. A remit currently before the Foundation board, and due to be voted on at November's AGM, is calling for all Treaty references to be removed from the NZAF Constitution and replaced instead with a commitment to takatapui-targeted health programmes. Robb says he doesn't know how widespread the support for the remit is. “Personally, the people that I talk to want us as an organisation to have a response to the epidemic that's effective for New Zealand,” he says. “And we're confident that at this point in time in terms of managing the risk around our indigenous people that we must be doing something right, because of the stats.” “I'd be disappointed if there was a knee jerk reaction on this matter,” he continues. “If there were any change proposed around our obligations to the Treaty, this must be thought about very clearly and in a deliberate fashion, to work through what the consequences would be if references were removed, and that remit got traction. But ultimately its for the AGM to decide.” Another remit, put forward by former NZAF executive director Warren Lindberg, calls for the Foundation to get back to the task of representing and protecting the community most affected by HIV/AIDS, namely men who have sex with men. Robb doesn't agree that there has been a divergence of focus in the Foundation's direction, and sees the Lindberg remit more as a “re-affirmation” of focus. “The work of the Foundation in terms of its operational work and its areas of prioritisation haven't changed at all,” he says. "It's consistent with the objects of our strategic plan. All those elements are still in place." Chris Banks - 26th October 2005    

Credit: Chris Banks

First published: Wednesday, 26th October 2005 - 12:00pm

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