1 July 2009

Repeal Foreshore and Seabed Act, say Greens

The Green Party is calling on the Government to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act as recommended by the review panel today.

“We call on the Government to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act and amend Te Ture Whenua Maori Act as soon as possible,” said Green Party Maori Affairs Spokesperson Metiria Turei.

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 Mrs Turei.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to take up their Member’s bill that would make the necessary changes to Te Ture Whenua Maori Act and would repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

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 (Chatham Islands) in the Crown, said Mrs Turei.

“Public access is already ensured through existing regulation and law and was never at issue. It was used 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.

ENDS

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