Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister for Maori Affairs

5 February 2008 Media Statement

Foreshore and Seabed Act guarantees protection of Māori rights

“Today's signing of the Heads of Agreement to recognise the mana of ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou in relation to the foreshore and seabed in their rohe, is welcomed as an important step forward,” says Minister of Māori Affairs, Parekura Horomia

"This Agreement recognises the special relationship and the enduring and unbroken mana of ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou in their rohe’s takutaimoana while also ensuring that public interests and access are protected."

“This is a major achievement for both this Labour-led government and Māori. The introduction of the Foreshore and Seabed Act ignited a heated debate, but has now proved to be a solution to a long standing problem which can take us forward as a country.

“We made a commitment in 2004 to protect Māori ancestral associations and mana to the foreshore and seabed. This Heads of Agreement is a major step towards honouring that commitment.”

“This agreement affirms the Crown’s commitment to its relationship with Ngāti Porou and I would like to recognise their hard work and the good faith and sincerity of all those involved. I wish them well in concluding the final stages of the negotiations,” Mr Horomia said.

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5 February 2008 Media Statement

Ka taurangitia e te Ture Takutaimoana te tiakitanga o ngā tika o te Māori.

“He ahunga whakamua whakahirahira te hainatanga, I te rangi nei, o te Kirimini Upoko hei tautoko I te mana o ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou, e pā ana ki te takutaimoana kei roto I tā rātou rohe,” e kī ana te Minita mō ngā Take Māori, a Parekura Horomia.

“E tautoko ana e te Kirimini nei te honohononga motuhake me te mana pūmau, pāruhiruhi a ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou ki runga I a rātou takutaimoana ā-rohe, me te whakapūmau anō ka tiakinatia ngā huarahi me ngā pānga a te hunga tūmatanui.”

“He whakatutukitanga nui rawa atu tēnei I waenga I te Kāwanatanga Reipa-ārahi me te Māori. I te whakaurunga mai o te Ture Takutaimoana ka tīmata ngā tautohetohe pukuriri, engari ināianei e pono ana koia nei hei whakatika I te whakararu tūroa kia āhei tātou o te motu ki te ahu whakamua.”

“I te tau 2004, I whakaae pono mātou ki te tiaki ārai I ngā herenga, me te mana tāwhito Māori ki te takutaimoana. Ko tēnei Kirimini Upoko tētahi mahi nui tonu ki te whakahonore I taua whakaae pono.”

“Ko tēnei kirimini ka whakaū I te piriponotanga a te Karauna ki tōna honohononga atu ki Ngāti Porou, na reira ka mihi ahau mō a rātou mahinga kaha, te whakapono me te ngākau pono o rātou katoa I whaiwāhi. Aku mihi nui ki a rātou kia tutuki pai ngā wāhanga whakamutunga o ngā whakawhitinga kōrero nei,” I kī a Horomia.

ENDS

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