Not one more acre of confiscations
24 January 2016
Not one more acre of confiscations
The Green Party launched a petition at Rātana today in support of its Members’ Bill to stop the compulsory acquisition of whenua Māori under the Public Works Act.
“This is a real opportunity to stop any
more unfair confiscations of what is left of whenua Māori.
The rallying call of Dame Whina Cooper of ‘Not one more
acre’ of compulsory Māori land acquisitions can now be
put into practice, and the Treaty of Waitangi can be made a
stronger part of our nation’s laws,” Green Party
Co-leader James Shaw said.
“It is an honour to launch this campaign today to bring action on T.W. Rātana’s lifelong commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.”
The Bill would amend the Public Works Act to specifically protect Māori freehold and Māori customary land from being acquired by a minister or local authority for public works. This would mean that no Māori land can be taken without consent.
“This Bill was
inspired by Patricia Grace and her whānau in Kapiti who
were threatened with confiscation under the Public Works Act
to build an expressway through their ancestral land,” Mr
Shaw said.
“Compulsory acquisitions of Māori land cut
across Article Two of the Treaty of Waitangi, which
guarantees rangatiratanga. The Waitangi Tribunal has been
clear that Māori have been discriminated against as a
result of the Public Works Act.
“Parliament passes settlement legislation to apologise and provide redress for historical injustice, while at the same time the Government is leaving the door open to confiscate further land and repeat those injustices.”
The Public Works
(Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land)
Amendment Bill was drawn as Catherine Delahunty’s
Members’ Bill from the ballot in December, and will be in
front of the House in March.
“The Green Party is asking
all Members of Parliament to support this Bill so that we
can see justice for Māori and honouring of the Treaty of
Waitangi.
“The work of Rātana was about honouring the
Treaty of Waitangi, and we now have an opportunity to
continue that work by putting in place legal protection for
whenua Māori,” Mr Shaw
said.
ends