MP wants separate body to deal with Treaty bills

The retiring chairman of the Maori Affairs Select Committee suggests there should be a separate body to deal with Treaty of Waitangi bills.

Tau Henare has chaired the committee for the past six years and describes it as the most bipartisan committee in the House of Representatives.

Mr Henare said it has been a privilege to serve on it and counts the Tobacco Inquiry and the 20 to 30-odd Treaty bills the committee has dealt with as highlights during his tenure.

However, the out-going National list MP said the amount of Treaty bills sometimes gets in the way of other matters the select committee would rather work on.