30th March 2017

An Open Letter to the New Zealand Prime Minister

We, the undersigned as New Zealand lawyers and academics who specialise in Māori land law, call on the New Zealand Government to not proceed with the Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill 2016.

We endorse the position of the Wakatū Incorporation as articulated in its letter of advice to the Māori Party dated 10th March 2017. We are opposed to the Bill for the following same reasons:

a. Undue commercial and cultural risk and uncertainty associated with key aspects of the Bill;

b. Lack of clarity around how key aspects of the Bill will work in practice (that is, the practical aspects of Māori land management have not been properly thought through);

c. Lack of certainty about the costs associated with the transition and no guarantee from Government that it will meet the costs of transition and compliance for Māori land owners;

d. Unacceptable changes to the succession regime that undermines the individual property rights of Māori land owners;

e. No clarity or certainty yet on how the overall framework will work to support the law reform (the Māori Land Service and the Enablers).

Overall, the reform process has been too rushed and has created confusion.

There is no need to rush such an important area of law and policy.

Signed
Professor Jacinta Ruru
Tavake Barron Afeaki
Kerensa Johnston
Leo Watson
Dr Robert Joseph
Dr Valmaine Toki
Aidan Warren
Dr Paerau Warbrick
Neuton Lambert
Rebekah Jordan
Dr Carwyn Jones
Annette Sykes
Angeline Greensill

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