Government out of touch with Maori aspirations

“The Trade Marks Bill being pushed through the Parliament today under urgency is the latest example of a patronising Labour Government out of touch with Mâori aspirations,” Georgina te Heuheu, spokesperson for Mâori Affairs said today.

“The Trade Marks Bill treats Mâori as beneficiaries and fails to recognise the emerging band of Mâori entrepreneurs and business people contributing to this country’s wealth,” Mrs te Heuheu said.

“Far from providing protection for Trade Marks and valuable brands, it creates confusion, adds uncertainty, and invariably increases costs,” Mrs te Heuheu said.

“Who bears those costs?

“New Zealand’s entrepreneurs, people of enterprise and vision who create wealth for our country and who are entitled to expect the Parliament to clarify the law, and to get proper protection for their brands,” she said.

“Mâori entrepreneurs are an increasing segment of that group of people.

“But the Government treats Mâori like beneficiaries and “add-ons” to the main text rather than addressing issues that really matter to Mâori.

“The so-called Mâori provisions in the Bill are tokenistic and meaningless,” Mrs te Heuheu said.

“This is typical of a Government that enjoys significant Mâori support but has delivered little in the last three years of real economic benefit to Mâori,” Mrs te Heuheu concluded.

© Scoop Media