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What About Property Owners' Rights?

Monday 18 Nov 2002 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs

Private land owners in Welcome Bay whose properties have been made wähi tapu by the Historic Places Trust should not have their rights overridden, ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"One group's spiritual values should not be able to override other people's property rights.

"ACT New Zealand believes private property should be sacrosanct - however fervently held a set of spiritual beliefs may be, they should not allow a group to expropriate what lawfully belongs to somebody else.

"If this decision is allowed to stand, nobody's property in New Zealand is safe, because all that someone need do is assert a belief and take control of anyone's land," Mr Franks said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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