Greens urge Government to listen to Maori

The Green Party is accusing the Government of acting in bad faith over its knee-jerk decision to legislate against Maori customary ownership and use of the seabed and foreshore.

"Sadly, the Government appears to have been motivated more by the bigoted scaremongering of other parties, than by its duty to consult with Maori over Treaty issues," Green Maori Affairs spokesperson, Metiria Turei said today.

"Rather than slamming them with a legislative hammer, the Government should be talking to Maori about the alternatives and looking at examples where Maori ownership has not excluded public use, such as Lake Taupo.

"Labour's heavy-handed response to this issue, and to the question of rights to oil and gas, demonstrate an unfounded lack of trust in Maori as a treaty party and must bring into question its future relationship with Maori.

"It's good to see the Maori Labour MP's finally raising their concerns about their Government's actions but the heat is now on Labour to prove that that its claim to 'represent' Maori is more than just a cynical election ploy.

"The Government should immediately withdraw its threat of legislation as a gesture of good faith and engage in meaningful dialogue with Maori," said Metiria Turei. "That would be in the spirit of a true partnership."

ENDS

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