Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
8 April 2014

Statement on Te Urewera –Tuhoe Bill

New Zealand First believes and supports the serious merit behind the Te Urewera –Tuhoe Bill but is concerned that some Māori may not have been heard during the negotiations towards the Treaty of Waitangi claims of Tuhoe.

“Legitimate iwi, who were recognised by respected parliamentarian Sir Apirana Ngata, have had their claims sidelined,” says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“New Zealand First voted against the Bill’s second reading in Parliament today because of this serious omission in the legislation.

“We are not disputing the correctness of Tuhoe’s claims, but the boundaries of the settlement.

“Once the Te Urewera - Tuhoe Bill passes its committee and third reading stages, if unchanged, then all chance to seek redress for past wrongs to other concerned iwi will be closed off.

“The Government has maintained that all the historical claims of Tuhoe will be settled by the passage into law of this bill, which is not the point here.

“The point is that another iwi’s legitimate claims have been, by this process, sidelined.

“It is not sound law to create a new wrong whilst trying to fix another wrong,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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