Tuesday, 6 April 2004

Foreshore and seabed legislation to protect private property rights

United Future MP Gordon Copeland today expressed satisfaction that the Government’s foreshore and seabed legislation will protect existing private property rights for all New Zealanders.

“This was a core requirement from United Future’s point of view. At times the debate around these important issues has tended to overlook the fact that many New Zealanders, including both Maori and Pakeha, already have title to parts of the foreshore.

“Since United Future is an advocate for private property rights, and I have introduced a member’s bill protecting those rights, we would not have been able to support the Government on this legislation if it had involved the confiscation or disturbance of privately held foreshore ownership dating back, in many cases, to the 1850s or the 1860s,” said Mr Copeland.

Ends.

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