Greens to submit Foreshore and Seabed solution

The Green Party is continuing to advocate for the repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act and the amendment of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act so that Maori rights are recognised and protected.

The Green Party has always opposed the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 because it fails to provide environmental protection and was a confiscation of Maori customary title.

“We have advocated from the beginning that Te Ture Whenua Maori Act should be amended to prevent the conversion of foreshore or seabed customary land into freehold title thereby ensuring that the land can never be sold. This was one of the key concerns of the pubic and the Government,” said Green Party Maori Affairs Spokesperson Metiria Turei.

“Public access is already ensured through existing regulation and law and was never a real issue. It was used, however by detractors, including National and Labour to whip up opposition to Maori having access to the courts for the investigation of their customary title,” said Mrs Turei.

Tomorrow, Mrs Turei will present the Green Party submission to Foreshore and Seabed Review Panel at Omaka Marae.

“I will present to the Panel our solution to the protection of customary rights, the marine environment and public access.

“I am pleased to deliver our submission at Omaka, given that the Ngati Apa case which was about getting recognition for Maori rights in the foreshore, was fought by iwi from Te Tau Ihu – the top of the South Island.”

The repeal of the legislation is critical to restore to Maori the right to have customary title investigated in the courts and to undo gross abuses such as the vesting of Te Whaanga Lagoon in the Crown, said Mrs Turei.

“Labour’s own submission to the Committee clearly agrees with the long standing Green position that an amendment to Te Ture Whenua Maori will resolve most, if not all the issues. Maori must have the same access to the courts as anyone else – the legislation was never justified. If only Labour had heeded our advice in 2004, this mess would never have been created.”

Media Advisory – Green Party Foreshore and Seabed submission
Who: Metiria Turei MP, Green Party spokesperson on Maori Issues.
Where & when: Omaka Marae, Blenheim, 10 am
For further details see - Green Party submission at www.greens.org.nz/node/20913