The Māori Party stands firmly opposed to the TPPA

Mounting concerns about the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement on tangata whenua are shared by the Māori Party Co-leaders Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell, as final negotiations continue in Hawaii.

“We have received no assurances that the Government has considered the full impact of the TPPA on their Treaty of Waitangi obligations nor have we received any assurances that the rights of hapū, iwi and Māori will be protected under this international agreement,” says Mrs Fox.

To that end, the Māori Party supports the current claims lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal and looks forward to seeing the Tribunal’s recommendations.

Mr Flavell says, “We worry about the consequences of a such a significant trade agreement when Māori have not been properly consulted, been part of the negotiations or privy to the details of the deal.”

“Māori have traded offshore since the late 1700s and we are not opposed to free trade per se. What we want to know is that our Treaty rights are fully protected.

“At the very least, we would expect to see the inclusion of a Treaty of Waitangi exception clause that allows future governments to favour Māori ahead of overseas entities,” says Mr Flavell.

“The Māori Party will never support any deal that jeopardises the well-being of tangata whenua or any other New Zealander for that matter”, says Mrs Fox.

ENDS

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