The National Party wants answers about new legislation that will confirm decisions made by a Maori Land Court judge whose authority to make those decisions had lapsed.
The bill, which sets 2008 deadline for all new historical Treaty claims, also contains the retrospective validation of decisions and judicial acts made by Judge Norman Smith in 83 Maori Land Court cases.
Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says Smith was about to retire, but had to cover for another judge who had fallen sick and his warrant expired during that time.
He says the judge informed the government and ceased his work as soon as he realised.
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National claims the government is trying to slip the provision through under the guise of Treaty deadline legislation.
