Meka Whaitiri
MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti

11 November 2015

Te Ture Whenua Bill opposition

Maori land owners should oppose the Minister of Maori Development’s Te Ture Whenua Bill as it disadvantages Maori says Labour’s MP for Ikaroa Rawhiti Meka Whaitiri.

“The Waitangi Tribunal today begins an urgent hearing about Te Ture Whenua so I’m asking Maori land owners to support an open letter calling for the Minister to scrap his poorly written bill as it does nothing but disadvantage Maori land owners.

“Te Ururoa Flavell has already tried to block recommendations by Maori land court judges and recent changes seem minor.

“The process has been rushed and consultation has been negligible.
“The Bill is unnecessary. It undermines the rights of Maori land owners and breaches fundamental elements of tikanga Māori,” says Meka Whaitiri.

ENDS